Seniors Can Smile Into Their Golden Years

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- May is National Older Americans Month. Many people believe that as they get older, they will start to lose their natural teeth. However, the percentage of Americans age 65 and over who were missing all of their natural teeth dropped to 26 percent (from 27.6) from 2004 to 2007.

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The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) stresses the importance of proper oral health care at any age and offers the following tips to help maintain a healthy mouth:

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• Brush all tooth surfaces, including the backs of teeth and your tongue, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Floss once a day to remove particles of food that get stuck between your teeth and under your gums.
• Visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning.
• Bring a list of current medications to your dentist appointments, including those that are over-the-counter, and let your dentist know if you are taking any new medications.
• Eat a balanced diet from the five major food groups, and avoid sugary foods and beverages.
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol use. Among other things, tobacco and alcohol greatly increase the risk of periodontal (gum) disease and oral cancer.
• If you experience dry mouth (xerostomia), talk to your dentist. There are many treatments they can recommend to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth, including increasing fluid intake, chewing sugarless gum, sucking on sugarless candy or using artificial saliva. Left untreated, dry mouth can cause an increase in cavities, gingivitis and other oral infections.
• If you wear dentures, they should be cleaned after meals and before going to bed at night. If you notice changes in your gums, such as red or white sores or raised bumps, report them to your dentist immediately.

"Since poor fitting dentures can lead to a host of problems, it is very important that patients continue to visit their dentist annually," said Dr. Craig Pate, a PDA member and general dentist from York. "Your dentist will perform an oral cancer screening and a comprehensive examination, ensuring your dentures are in optimal condition. Also, your dentist can discuss new treatment options that are now available for denture patients. In particular, implants are a predictable and life changing procedure."

If you are a senior in need of free or reduced cost dental care, PDA can help! The Senior Dental Care Program offers discounted dental care to eligible seniors by PDA member dentists who have agreed to offer a minimum discount of 15 percent off their usual fees for patients who meet the program's basic requirements. More than 1,000 dentists have participated in this voluntary program. For more information on the program, including eligibility requirements and an online referral form, visit www.padental.org/sdcp.

If you do not meet the program's eligibility requirements, but are in need of free or reduced cost oral health care, visit PDA's online dental clinic directory at www.padental.org/clinicdirectory. This directory is searchable by county and contains detailed information on free and reduced-fee dental clinics, such as location and contact information, hours of operations, patient eligibility, services provided, fees and areas served.

About the Pennsylvania Dental Association

Founded in 1868, the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) is comprised of approximately 6,000 member dentists. It is a constituency of the American Dental Association (ADA), the largest and oldest national dental society in the world. PDA's mission is to improve the public health, promote the art and science of dentistry and represent the interests of its member dentists and their patients. PDA is the voice of dentistry in Pennsylvania. For more information on PDA, visit our website at www.padental.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Dental Association