Having a healthy mouth will help older adults to chew and enjoy their food. Additionally, a healthy mouth prevents cavities and other associated problems such as heart disease.

Key takeaways:

• Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing will help to remove dental plaque that may lead to gum disease and tooth loss.
• Check for changes in the mouth such as numbness, sores, lumps, even difficulty chewing -- and immediately see a dentist or doctor.
• Dry mouth is a concern especially for people with diabetes. It can lead to infection, cavities and difficulty when talking or swallowing.

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https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/doctor-visits/regular-check-ups/oral-health-for-older-adults-quick-tips

Cracked or chipped dental fillings may lead to accumulation of bacteria that causes tooth decay. Consider getting dental work to keep teeth healthy.

Key takeaways:

• High levels of estrogen and progesterone in women may result in puffy gums that require a trip to the dentist.
• The perfect stroke when brushing the teeth is holding the toothbrush at 45 degrees and using circular motions to clean the teeth.
• Avoid diet soda which contains low amounts of sugar but still contains high acid content -- which softens enamel leading to staining and damage of teeth.

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http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20354737,00.html#more

Flossing is absolutely important and cannot be replaced with mouthwash. Floss your teeth before brushing to dislodge food in between the teeth.

Key takeaways:

• Teeth should not be brushed immediately after meals to allow saliva to rebalance pH in the mouth.
• Brushes are not the same. Electric brushes are more effective at removing plaque than manual brushes.
• Gum disease does not only affect the mouth. It has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and low birth-weight babies.

Read the full story here

http://www.womansweekly.com/health/tooth-brushing-truth-teeth-26418/

To protect teeth and oral health, it is important to reduce the consumption of sweetened drinks. The drinks with added sugar include soda, energy drinks and sports drinks.

Key takeaways:

• You should consume less than 10 percent of calories from added sugars per day. The sugars are added to food during processing either to enhance flavor or as preservative.
• Drinking soda or a glass of juice as an occasional treat is entirely different from habitually drinking them. Such habits are downright dangerous and the reason behind the rising cases of obesity.
• � � � �All this sugar leads to dental cavities and tooth decay.

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/sc-one-simple-thing-stop-sugary-drinks-health-0127-20160127-story.html

Even though a review carried out by the Associate Press revealed that there was no sufficient evidence to support flossing, the practice should not be abandoned. Floss your teeth at least once every day.

Key takeaways:

• � � � �A few weeks ago, an Associated Press investigation indicated that there are no reliable clinical trials showing that flossing prevents cavities or periodontal disease.
• The American Dental Association responded by saying that a lack of strong evidence doesn't equate to a lack of effectiveness.
• Another study reveals that children who flossed teeth on school days for two years had a 40 percent reduction in the risk of cavities.

Read the full story here

http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Dr-Oz/flossing-cognitive-decline-heart-disease-DrOz/2016/08/30/id/745877/

You need a few products to have a clean mouth and whiter teeth. And let's face it, the state of your mouth can make or break your chances of landing a date.

Key takeaways:

• Just like in sports and war, a healthy and clean mouth is the best defense.
• The Supersmile Advanced Sonic Pulse toothbrush has a 45-degree angle and can achieve 30,000 strokes, meaning that it cleans the teeth and gums better.
• GUM Red-Cote Liquid is good for fixing bad brushing problems. It will help to get back teeth to their pearly white and healthy state.

Read the full story here

http://www.menshealth.com/grooming/tools-for-a-cleaner-mouth

Dried fruit is a portable and convenient snack. However, dried fruit have been linked to problems such as cavities.

Key takeaways:

• The assertion that dried fruits are sticky and adhere to the teeth is based on very weak evidence.
• Further research on the effects of chewing dried fruit on the teeth is required.
• Dried fruit has immense nutritional benefits as well as having antimicrobial compounds. Other benefits are triggering salivary flow.

Read the full story here

http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v221/n5/full/sj.bdj.2016.628.html

Tooth decay is a preventable condition that mostly affects children. Good oral hygiene is important in keeping the teeth healthy and free from cavities.

Key takeaways:

• Children should be supervised to brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice every day until seven years of age.
• The frequency and amount of sugary drinks and snacks should be reduced.
• Make regular visits to the dentist so that dental problems are detected early and treated.

Read the full story here

https://www.bda.org/public/sugar-and-children%E2%80%99s-oral-health-top-tips

Dental implants are emerging as a better option to dentures. The implants are inserted through a straightforward procedure in which a titanium screw is fixed to the jawbone. Several visits will be required to successfully insert the implant.

Key takeaways:

• Dental implants are now the preferred treatment for people with a missing tooth or a set of missing teeth.
• Implants are permanent, often attached with a titanium screw to the jawbone and can be worn without discomfort.
• Patients find it easy to maintain the implants compared to the dentures. The implants are also healthier to the gums and to the bone.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/health/31patient.html

Researchers have been feted for coming up with the regenerative dental fillings that are restorative. The regenerative dental fillings help the tooth to generate new pulp and dentin.

Key takeaways:

• The regenerative dental fillings have been described as a new dental paradigm for dental treatments.
• These fillings stimulate stem cells to grow new dentin which effectively lead to growth of new teeth.
• The restorative treatment makes use of therapeutic biomaterials that trigger this new application of stem cells

Read the full story here

http://www.newsweek.com/dental-fillings-heal-teeth-stem-cells-harvard-cavities-477415