Tooth loss is enjoyed and celebrated in our younger years, and then dreaded and feared in our older years. No one intentionally loses their teeth, but does anyone work towards preventing tooth loss? When your younger this thought might never cross your mind, but ways to combat tooth loss when your over 60 is a lot more imaginable. There are a few tips that you can follow that will help you combat tooth loss over 60.

1. Stay away from Sports Drinks – The pH levels in many sports drinks can lead to tooth erosion due to their high concentration of acidic components, which could wear away at the tooth’s enamel.
2. Stay away from Sodas – for similar reasons as sports drinks, high sugar and bad pH. Don’t think your getting off easy with a diet soda, they can still be just as harmful.
3. Stay away from Sugar – sugar acts as food for acid-producing bacteria which ends up causing cavities and tooth decay. Replace sugar with Stevia, which is all natural, or at least Splenda.
4. Drink water from the tap – bottled waters has less fluoride than tap water. Fluoride makes the entire tooth more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization which aids in stopping early decay. And the most efficient way to get fluoride is from water. But for the over 60 crowd you should also use fluoride toothpaste or fluoride rinses.
5. Stop Smoking! – besides the cancer it produces, tar from smoke forms a sticky film on teeth which increases bacteria.
6. Floss more – you already know you should be doing it. So start.

If you don’t follow these 6 tips, you might end up with dentures or dental implants.