Why Dental Care is Important for the Elderly

Dental care is important throughout your whole life. Nothing is a replacement for regular brushing, flossing, and at least twice yearly dental checkups. As you get older, it becomes even more imperative to maintain good dental health. We will assess the most common types of threats to the oral health of the elderly, and how they can maintain that health.

Oral health problems that seniors are at risk for

Tooth loss

As people age, gum disease can become especially problematic. This get worse with age and lack of regular dental care.

Gum Disease (periodontitis)

About 47.2% of adults have some form of periodontitis. As the body gets older, it becomes more susceptible to infection. Periodontal disease can spread to other parts of the body easily, leading to infections in other places. Untreated, gum disease can lead to life-threatening illnesses.

Dry mouth

Many older adults have lower saliva production. Medications can also stop saliva flow. Lower amounts of saliva also leads to worse cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Diminished sense of taste

Taste bud count often gets lower with age. This can be due to eating spicy foods, tobacco use, and the normal aging process. Prescription medications also effect the sense of taste.

Oral yeast infection

Also known as thrush, this disease can be caused by medications or existing diseases.

Stomatitis

Poorly-fitting dentures can cause inflammation of the skin beneath. Additionally, the fungus Candida albicans (the fungus that grows during a thrush infection) can exacerbate stomatitis.

Root decay

As people age, the gums often recede from the teeth. This can expose the roots to the same kind of acids that cause tooth decay. Unlike the teeth, roots don’t have enamel and are thus more poorly prepared for it.

Darkened Teeth

As people age, and eat tooth-staining foods, the enamel is worn away. Staining food, like coffee, red wine, and highly-acidic foods also causes changes in the dentin. Dentin is below the enamel, and can be stained once the enamel has been worn through.

Pneumonia

After chewing food, small pieces of debris from that food remain in the mouth. These pieces of food can be inhaled into the lungs, causing infection. This lung infection is also known as pneumonia.

Oral Cancers

Most normally associated with tobacco, this type of cancer usually starts as a sore. If you have a growth or sore in the mouth that does not heal, seek treatment immediately.

Hypertension

Having an infection anywhere in the body – including the mouth, can lead to high blood pressure.

Diabetes

Diabetes is preventable, but not curable, so it’s important to use caution and address it early. Infections in the mouth can raise blood sugar, which in turn causes diabetes. Also, diabetes can lead to gum infection, tooth decay, and other oral infections.

Looking to take better care of your oral health?

Brush twice a day

This is an obvious one. You should be brushing twice a day no matter your age, but if you are a senior, it’s especially important.

Floss

Floss once a day, it’s best to do before bed to clean out debris from the gums before sleep. The decomposing pieces of food can decay your mouth at an accelerated rate over night when you aren’t drinking water or active.

Clean dentures every day

Dentures can build up bacteria like nothing else. Soak them in a liquid formula to remove microorganisms effectively.

Stop using tobacco

Tobacco is awful for your teeth and your overall health. As you get older, the threats from tobacco only become more serious.

Visit your dentist regularly

Visit your dentist at least 2 times a year, and be sure to have any serious problems looked at. If you are in the Carrollton Texas area, stop by Josey Lane Dentistry with any problems. We are happy to help with any problems you have or answer any questions regarding your oral health. We are especially accustomed to having seniors as patients. Let us know what you are thinking, and we’ll let you know how we can treat you.