Dental Health Myths

Dental health changes as you age. Bone loss and gum disease can affect your quality of life.  Here are two common myths about dental health and aging:

Myth One:  It doesn’t matter if I get calcium from my food or from supplements—it’s all the same.

Calcium is especially important as we get older to prevent bone loss or osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can happen in the jaw bone and when it does, it may lead to your teeth becoming loose or falling out. In a recent study, people who got their calcium almost exclusively from supplements were more than twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those who took no supplements. The recommended daily amount of calcium for most adults is 1,000 milligrams a day, preferably from foods including low-fat dairy such as milk, cheese and yogurt.

Myth Two: Everyone needs dentures at some point.

Today, approximately 75 percent of people over age 65 have kept some or all of their teeth. Scientists credit this improvement with better preventive measures like community water fluoridation and daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Advances in dental care have allowed dentists to save teeth that would have been lost in the past. With daily brushing and flossing and regular visits to the dentist, you can keep your teeth for life!

Source: American Dental Association