Many people fear the aging process, seeing it as the end of youthful vitality and beauty and the start of a long decline. However, there are certain habits to establish when you are younger to ensure that you can enjoy as active and fun and old age as possible.

Here are three must-do maintenance habits to develop to ensure a healthier, happier older you.

1. Dental check-ups

With their scary-looking equipment and clinical smell, you might have a fear of the dentist’s surgery and, as such, avoid regular dental check-ups. However, getting your teeth checked regularly – once every six months is recommended – is intrinsic to keeping your mouth healthy. In addition to scaling and polishing your teeth, the dentist will fill any cavities and check for any other dental issues. If cavities are left unattended, the tooth can deteriorate to such a point where extraction is the only option; therefore, keeping on top of check-ups is a must. However, make sure that your regular dental check-ups are supported by twice-daily brushing and flossing to ensure that your teeth remain in tip-top condition.

2. Eye tests

Having regular eye tests can help monitor the eye’s health and quickly spot any alterations to your vision. These can be easily dealt with by the use of glasses, contact lenses, or even laser eye surgery if you so choose. Regular eye tests become even more important as you grow older, as certain eye conditions are common in older people. Cataracts, for instance, are a natural part of the aging process that everyone will experience should they live to 80 and beyond. As it is a slow-developing, painless condition, you might not realize you have cataracts until your vision has become seriously impaired, with symptoms included blurred, cloudy vision, and a sensitivity to bright lights.

Fortunately, cataracts are easily treated with surgery involving the clouded optical lens replacement with a clear artificial one. Visit panoptix.myalcon.com for more information about cataracts removal surgery and replacement lenses.

3. Hearing tests

You’ve probably had a dental check-up and eye test at least once in your life, but what about a hearing test? You use your ears every moment of every day, and though you might not give much thought to them, you will certainly miss them should something happen to your hearing!

A hearing test usually involves the audiologist looking inside your ears to examine the health of your ear canals and eardrum. At this point, they may refer you for an ear syringing should the ear canal be impacted with wax, causing hearing loss. Your hearing will also be tested by listening to sounds played at different pitches, and you may also be tested on how well you hear sounds through vibrations. You may be recommended a hearing aid if there is any decline in your hearing. There are many types of hearing aids available, some being so small and discreet that you won’t know it’s there.

What are your favorite must-do maintenance tasks for a healthier, happier older you?

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