You have worked all your life and now you want to retire. When it comes to saying goodbye to the 9 to 5 and hello to throwing away that early morning alarm clock, you need to consider a few things before you hand in your resignation. Think about your dental care and how retirement might affect the way your teeth and gums stay healthy. Have you decided to call it quits now that you are over 65 years old? Here are some things you need to do before you get comfortable in your recliner.
Just because you are no longer working doesn’t mean your teeth retire as well. It is important to maintain a healthy oral cavity at every stage of life and you shouldn’t stop now. Visit your dentist twice a year to ensure your teeth and gums remain in good shape. Gum disease and cavities affect older adults more often and can lead to the loss of a tooth. When you continue to take care of your teeth, they will last you as long as you need them.
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All your life you have regularly gone to the dentist for your bi-annual check-ups and never thought twice about paying for the service. Your employer-provided you with great health and dental plan over the years and your dentist always direct billed the insurance company. Now, with pending retirement, you need to start thinking about who is going to cover the costs of your dental bills.
Before you retire, you should make sure you have a complete assessment of your teeth and gums during your dentist appointment, it’s the perfect time to use up your remaining credit for your dental insurance. Investigate the options you have for dental coverage during retirement. Blue Cross has dental coverage for a variety of services and if you are a low-income senior it may even cost you less than you think.
Ok, so you are retiring but you are not quite ready to give up driving your car. You can continue to take yourself to your regular dentist appointments for now. What about transportation options when you decide you just don’t have the skills or the desire to drive your vehicle anymore? Before you give up your driver's licence make sure you have some transportation options to get you to and from the dentist's office. There are a variety of services for seniors including transit, taxi, Uber, or even hiring someone to drive you places. Make sure you consider your mobility before you choose where you will live in retirement.
Even though you hate to admit it, your dexterity is not like it used to be. Brushing and flossing in those hard to reach places has become quite a chore. Not to fret, your dentist can help you out with different types of toothbrushes or ways to assist you in holding the toothbrush. You don’t have to stop cleaning your teeth, there are special dental floss holders, interdental cleaners, and specially designed straps to get a grip on your cleaning abilities.
Look forward to your retirement years with a clean and healthy oral cavity. With the help of your dentist, you will be able to enjoy all those delicious meals on that special cruise you’ve been planning for quite some time.
