How to Take Care of Your Teeth as You Approach Middle Age

Your body starts to change in your 30s and 40s. No, you aren’t old yet, but your teeth aren’t as resilient as they were when you were a kid.

Your nutritional makeup is different now. Your body needs more essential nutrients like calcium to keep your teeth and bones healthy. Mistakes like eating dark foods without taking proper stain prevention steps will take a bigger toll. You can still enter middle age with a beautiful smile. You just need to be more intentional about it.

In this article, we’ll look at how to preserve your tooth health for decades to come, especially in middle age.

The Same Old Rules Apply

First of all, understand that the same old rules apply. You should be brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing only those that you plan to keep, as every dentist has ever recommended.

This, of course, is not a new recommendation, but it takes on heightened importance as you age.
Remember that the same way you can’t eat dessert without finding it later on your waistline, you also won’t be able to skip brushing in the morning and still keep the same beautiful smile you’ve grown used to.

You might even consider upgrading your hardware. While manual toothbrushes are certainly not a problem, a good electric model can do a lot more in the same amount of time. They typically come with handy features that guide you through a better brushing routine.

For example, many have a timer that vibrates every 30 seconds for a total of two minutes. The quarterly vibrations remind you to change sections, while the full timer ensures you’re brushing thoroughly every time, not just swiping the brush around and hoping for the best.

Do grown adults need this timer? That’s a subjective question. But next time you brush your teeth, look at the clock before and after. Did you actually hit the dentist-recommended two minutes? If so, you’re a statistical anomaly.

The average person brushes their teeth for only thirty-three seconds, which neither adequately removes plaque and bacteria nor equips teeth with the fluoride levels they require to stand up to long-term dental issues.

Stain Prevention

Also, don’t sleep on the importance of stain precaution. Granted, avoiding dark spots on your teeth is primarily a cosmetic concern—and maybe not the primary focus of such a well-grounded person as yourself. Nevertheless, we all like to look nice when we smile, don’t we?

You can still enjoy dark wines and coffees without constantly worrying about what they’ll do to your pearly whites. Avoiding stains doesn’t mean cutting out the good stuff; it just means being a little more mindful.

One of the simplest ways to prevent staining is to brush your teeth shortly after you’ve consumed a staining agent. This isn’t always feasible, but when it is, it can remove most of the particles before they start doing real damage.

The same way it’s easier to get a stain out of your carpet right after a spill, it’s easier to fight discoloration on your teeth before it sets in. A few small habits can go a long way toward keeping your smile bright.

Dietary Support in Middle Age

Finally, fight tooth decay organically by giving your body the things it needs to stay healthy. Remember that teeth thrive on the same sort of conditions as the rest of you. They don’t like refined sugar. They need calcium, fiber, and other forms of vitamins.

A good tooth-friendly diet is the same type of meals that will keep your heart healthy. Lean dairy, leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables, these things alongside water instead of soda, and so on, are a great way to keep yourself with a beautiful smile and an all-around healthy body long into your 40s, 50s, and beyond.

Don’t look at dietary restrictions as a loss, but rather a new world of possibilities. These are delicious meals that are also good for your teeth.

We all like refined sugar from time to time, and no, you don’t have to give it up completely. However, if you substitute your habitual scoop of ice cream for a bowl of fresh food, you probably won’t even miss the refined option after a month or two.

Give it a try. Healthier eating opens up an entire world of possibilities beyond merely improving your smile.

Don’t Forget Routine Care

Changing your routine is an excellent step toward a brighter smile. Also, don’t forget the importance of regular professional teeth cleanings and dental consultations. At Integrated Dental, we specialize in helping people achieve the smile of their dreams. Book an appointment today!