Age is a funny thing. You can’t wait to grow up but when you reach adulthood, you start longing for the responsibility-free days of your youth. And if you’re not maintaining your health as you age, you may also be missing the days when you felt pain-free and healthy. If you’re living a healthy and active lifestyle, odds are you feel younger than others your age.
So how old, or young, are you really? Sixty years of age feels different to different people. This depends on how you take care of yourself daily. You may experience weakness, illness, and the loss of teeth with a decrease in exercise and healthy eating habits. These are the things that make you feel older than you are.
And don’t forget! Tooth loss and frailty don’t simply come from old age – they are a result of poor oral and overall wellness practices.
Oral and Overall Health as You Age
Many things contribute to changes in your oral health as you age:
- Lack of transportation to the dentist
- The loss of employer benefits at retirement
- Changes in mobility and strength
- Side effects of new medications like dry mouth
If you’re not on top of living a healthy and active lifestyle, these new influences can begin to take a toll. For example, periodontal disease – a form of gum disease – accounts for 70 percent of missing teeth and is commonly seen in older adults. Experts note that periodontal disease isn’t due to growing older, though. It’s from lack of care. Without regular checkups at a dentist, you may not even know you have periodontal disease until it becomes painful and damaging.
Periodontal disease is linked to other overall health issues like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, respiratory complications, and cancer. In some instances, there’s a cause-and-effect response within your body. This occurs with diabetes and heart disease. Dental cleanings can lessen the risk for someone with diabetes. Conversely, diabetics who don’t visit the dentist are compounding the effects of their disease. With heart disease, inflammation in the mouth is an indicator for the presence of inflammation elsewhere.
It’s Not Too Late
It’s never too late to start living a healthy and active lifestyle. Here are a few healthy habits that can help you take control of your age and live longer:
- Make regular visits to an in-network dentist
- Maintain a brushing and flossing routine
- Develop healthy habits
- Drink more water
- Keep a diet rich in nutrients such as fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants
And, for some tooth-healthy recipe ideas, check out:
Editors Note: This post was originally published May 2019. The content was revised and updated November 2024.
