Preventative Oral Care Has Helped Seniors Keep More Teeth

The Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal reported that preventative measures, such as brushing with fluoride, the increased importance of calcium, and abstaining from tobacco, have helped 75 percent of people over the age of 65 keep some or all of their natural teeth, according to the American Dental Association. The article also says the source of calcium intake is important, according to the ADA, because adults who “got their calcium almost exclusively from supplements were found to be almost twice as likely to suffer heart attacks as those who took no calcium supplements.” The ADA recommends 1,000 mg of calcium daily from food sources such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. Health officials say more must be done to promote senior oral care, because the CDC “reports 23 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have sever gum disease.”