Sweet 60 But Not so Sweet for your Teeth:
Oral Care for Elderly
Why is oral hygiene for the elderly important?
As old age creeps in, the importance of taking care of your overall well-being heightens. Dental issues are part and parcel of old age. Ignorance of dental issues can lead to heart attacks, amnesia, and other serious ailments.
The problems that bad oral health can cause are:
Darkened teeth
Darkened teeth occur due to dentin changes, which is a bone-like tissue that bears the tooth enamel and by a lifetime of consuming stain-causing foods and beverages, like coffee. Darkened teeth could be an indication of a more severe problem.
Heart disease
Gum diseases such as Periodontitis which is the inflammation of gums, also start occurring around this age. Poor dental hygiene can cause gum inflammation to worsen, leading to worsened heart diseases and higher heart strokes.
Root decay
Root decay occurs due to the exposure of the tooth root to decay-causing acids. As gums recede, tooth roots become exposed.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth is a result of reduced saliva flow, which can result from cancer treatments that use radiation and certain illnesses, such as Sjögren’s syndrome. Several medications can result in a dry mouth.
Thrush
Several diseases or drugs that affect the immune system can trigger the overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans in the mouth that causes Oral Thrush.
4 Dental care tips for the elderly
At this stage of life, where a person is more prone to losing teeth and developing oral complications and ailments related to dental care, it becomes of utmost importance to take due care.
Maintain a habit of going for regular dental visits
Even though you wear a denture, getting your teeth and gums checked is very important.
Brush and floss daily
Switch to a fluoride toothpaste
Use an antibacterial mouthwash to prevent the buildup of bacteria
Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet
If you have dental implant supporting teeth, make sure you visit your dentist to check if everything’s alright in there
Final Note
Age in itself is not the sole agent in determining the condition of one’s oral health. Drugs also tend to affect oral health and may make a change in your dental treatment necessary. It’s always advised to see a dentist to maintain healthy oral hygiene forever.
