Ageing is a natural phenomenon the human body has to go through. Ageing not only takes in grey hair or change in skin texture but also includes several other body changes. Among all these changes, the process of ageing also affects your oral health.

Why is jaw health important?

While we take supplements or practice good lifestyle habits to prevent the side effects of ageing, there is one thing that often gets neglected. Yes, I’m talking about our oral health which we often take for granted.

When it comes to your oral health, your jaw plays an important role. Your strong jaw not only holds your teeth intact but also responsible for your normal eating and speaking patterns. Any jaw health problem can lead to severe consequences and complications as revealed by a renowned maxillofacial surgeon in Lahore.

How to keep your jaws healthy with ageing?

Here are a few things that can help you to have healthy jaws and are key to good oral health. These include;

1- Focus on bones

This discussion on ageing and bone health never gets old and it’s often said to take care of your bones with progressive ageing. Most of us take calcium supplements to keep our bones healthy as it is considered that our bones become weak, as revealed by a renowned physician from Medix Hospital.

However we often tend to forget that our jaws are also made up of bones and just like our other bones, their ability to absorb calcium also declines. So, to ensure good jaw health it’s recommended to take 1 gram of calcium for people above 40 years of age. 

2- Eat jaw healthy foods

The food we eat ultimately defines our physical and physiological health and our jaws are no exception to this. A few foods can play role in keeping our jawbones healthy, including;

• Calcium- Calcium is considered a vital nutrient when it comes to our bone health. For good jaw health, it is recommended to add calcium to your diet on a daily basis. For proper utilization of calcium, it is also necessary to have good amounts of vitamin D in your body.
• Fresh whole foods- Other than calcium eating whole fresh foods including fruits and vegetables are also known to improve your bone health. These foods protect the gum and teeth disease which is one of the leading causes of jaw deterioration.
• Vitamins- make sure whatever food you are consuming contains good amounts of the vitamin in it including vitamin A, K2 and vitamin D.

3- Adopt health chewing habits

Your jaw is a joint that requires a stimulus to work efficiently and your chewing habits can play a major role in this. Eating the foods that put pressure on your jaws can make them work more efficiently and when we give up on those food items we make our jaws more sluggish. Thus, to keep your jaws healthy it is important to incorporate such foods in your diet such as whole vegetables, meat on the bone, dried meat, whole nuts etc.                                                                              

4- Balance your microbiome

Most of our oral health problems arise from the up build of microbes in our body. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the balance between good and bad bacteria. But how can you control the growth of these microbes in your mouth? The answer is pretty simple! Through food, you can control the microbiome present inside your mouth as it depends upon the food you are consuming. You can include both prebiotics and probiotics in your diet to balance the bad bacteria with good ones. 

5- Don’t grind your teeth

Another effective way to ensure your jaw health is by stopping grinding your teeth. Many people are into teeth grinding, sometimes out of habit or due to stress may be. The habit of teeth grinding not only causes teeth damage but is also responsible for irreversible teeth damage.

6- Visit your dentist more frequently

No matter how much you try, you can’t fully avoid the damage and sometimes it can go undiagnosed. Thus, it is advisable to frequently visit your dentist over time and particularly if you are above 40 to 50 years of age.

Take away Note to Keep Your Jaws Healthy with Ageing!

Good oral hygiene practices and taking care of your diet alongside following a jaw physical activity routine can help you in preventing your jaw damage. A healthy jaw is certainly the key to your overall health.