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Everyone probably has the habit of brushing their teeth first when they wake up in the morning and again before going to bed at night.
Do you think this is the most common way to brush your teeth? Many people think that brushing their teeth in the morning and evening is the most basic oral health care method, but did you know?
This brushing habit can have a negative impact on the oral health of the elderly.
Especially when you are over 60 years old, your oral health and care methods need to be adjusted, otherwise it may aggravate oral problems and even cause more health problems.
The relationship between dental health and age
As we age, our teeth and gums gradually change, and after the age of 40, the mineralized layer of the teeth gradually thins and the gums begin to recede, especially in people over the age of 60.
At this age, many people still maintain the old habit of brushing their teeth in the morning and evening, but ignore the oral care methods that need to be adjusted as their bodies change.
I once saw a patient in his 60s who had been brushing his teeth in the morning and evening for a long time, but his teeth had been severely worn out and his gums had receded significantly, resulting in sensitive teeth and frequent discomfort when eating.
At first, he didn't pay much attention to it, thinking that brushing his teeth frequently was a good habit, until the pain and discomfort gradually worsened, and he came to the doctor.
After examination, I found that his gums had begun to degenerate, which was closely related to his habit of brushing his teeth intensely.
Excessive brushing not only does not bring oral health, but rather worsens tooth wear and gum recession. This is just a typical case, and many older people have similar problems.
In fact, the older you get, the more careful and varied your oral health care becomes, and it is not just "brushing your teeth in the morning and evening" to maintain your health.
For those over the age of 60, it is essential to change the traditional way of brushing teeth in the morning and evening. I'm going to list a few common and overlooked brushing habits and why they need to be broken to avoid harm to your oral health.
Brush your teeth vigorously
Many people think that brushing their teeth is all about brushing hard, especially when they are older, and they feel that it is more important to "brush clean", however, brushing their teeth vigorously will not only not be cleaner, but will cause damage to their teeth and gums.
Especially when your teeth become more fragile and your gums start to recede, brushing vigorously can increase the wear and tear of your teeth, leading to further recession of your gums.
I once saw a man in his 80s who brushed his teeth vigorously for a long time, believing that this would be the only way to clean his teeth thoroughly.
However, over time, his teeth showed severe wear and tear, and his gums had receded to a barely visible position, and even some of the roots of his teeth were exposed, causing him to feel pain all the time when food entered.
After a detailed examination, my gums had been damaged by long-term vigorous brushing, and the protective layer of his teeth had also suffered from wear and tear.
There is no need to use force when brushing your teeth, in fact, brushing your teeth too hard will cause more damage to your gums and teeth, the correct brushing method should be to brush gently and brush your teeth with a circular motion, which can effectively protect the surface of your teeth and gums.
Use a toothbrush with stiff bristles
Many people like to use a hard-bristled toothbrush when brushing their teeth, thinking that it can brush their teeth more cleanly, especially some older people, who think that a hard-bristled toothbrush can brush off those stubborn stains on their teeth.
However, bristled toothbrushes are not suitable for everyone, especially those who are older and have more fragile teeth.
There was a patient in her 70s who was used to using a hard-bristled toothbrush and thought it was more forceful, however, as time went on, her gums began to become red and swollen, and even showed slight bleeding.
Upon examination, we found that her gums had developed recession and slight inflammation under the excessive rubbing of a hard-bristled toothbrush.
Although a hard-bristled toothbrush can remove some stains when cleaning teeth, for older patients, hard-bristled toothbrushes are too irritating and can easily cause gum problems.
Therefore, it is very important to choose a toothbrush that is suitable for your oral health, and for the elderly, it is best to choose a soft-bristled toothbrush, which can not only gently clean your teeth, but also effectively protect your gums from damage caused by excessive friction.
Brushing your teeth for too short a time
Many people are in a hurry when brushing their teeth, especially after waking up in the morning, when time is tight, and the time for brushing is often compressed.
Oral hygiene is especially important for the elderly, who are prone to plaque buildup and bacterial growth in the mouth.
There was a patient who brushed his teeth in a hurry, and each brushing time was only about a minute.
Since the dirt on the teeth is not completely cleaned, a large amount of plaque builds up on the teeth over time, leading to problems such as tooth decay and gingivitis.
After a detailed examination, I found that he did not completely remove some of the residue between the teeth and the surface of the teeth when he brushed his teeth, which eventually led to his oral problems.
For the elderly, brushing should be extended to more than two minutes to ensure that every tooth is thoroughly cleaned, and the correct brushing time will not only remove plaque, but also reduce the accumulation of bacteria and maintain the health of the mouth.
Brush your teeth immediately after eating
Many people believe that brushing their teeth immediately after eating is a good way to clean their mouth, especially for the elderly, where food debris can trigger oral problems if not cleaned up.
However, brushing your teeth immediately after a meal is not an ideal habit, especially after eating acidic foods, the surface of your teeth will become temporarily fragile, and brushing your teeth immediately may damage the enamel.
I once saw a patient who was about 60 years old and used to brush his teeth immediately after eating, thinking that it would keep his breath fresh and prevent food debris from accumulating.
However, he gradually developed the problem of tooth sensitivity, and every time he ate food, his teeth felt uncomfortable.
After a detailed examination, it was found that he had damaged the enamel on the surface of his teeth due to brushing his teeth immediately after a long meal, which in turn caused tooth sensitivity.
Therefore, in order to protect your teeth, it is best to wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth, especially after eating acidic foods (such as citrus, tomatoes, etc.), it is best to avoid brushing your teeth immediately to avoid damaging the tooth enamel.
As can be seen from the above cases and analysis, people over the age of 60 do need to make some adjustments when brushing their teeth.
Brushing too hard, using a hard-bristled toothbrush, brushing your teeth for too short a time, and brushing your teeth immediately after meals can lead to problems such as receding gums, tooth wear and sensitivity, which in turn can increase the burden on your oral health.
Therefore, the elderly should adjust their brushing methods according to their oral conditions, choose a toothbrush that suits them, increase the brushing time, and avoid inappropriate brushing times to maintain long-term oral health.
The above content is for reference only, if you feel unwell, please consult a professional doctor in time
What do you think about the 4 best brushing habits after the age of 60? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
Resources:
[1] Wang Shichao, The relationship between inflammatory mediators and pain, oral health, and quality of life in patients with pulpitis, Journal of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2024-07-10