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The Importance of Dental Care For Senior Oral Health

Maintaining good oral and dental health might become more challenging as your loved one ages. Likewise, when oral health for seniors becomes more crucial, carers are required to take on more responsibilities. Because good oral health is essential for good overall health, routine dental visits and straightforward instructions to brush twice daily and floss every day might be sufficient. Making wise dietary decisions and consuming fluoridated tap water are further suggestions. An aged person’s ability to care for their mouth and teeth on their gets increasingly challenging physically and psychologically as dementia or other conditions, including arthritis, Parkinson’s, and mobility disorders, worsen.

It can also be more difficult to maintain healthy teeth due to some lifestyle changes. The side-effect of dry mouth, which can be detrimental to dental enamel, might rise along with the number of prescriptions. Older people may have less pain-sensitive teeth, making it more challenging to identify cavities and other oral health issues. It’s simple to overlook senior oral health when caring for someone with other medical issues. This poses a risk since pneumonia can be brought on by inhaling bacteria from the mouth into the lungs.

  • Cavities, dry mouth, and medications – We are increasingly susceptible to cavities as we age. A dry mouth is a common factor in tooth decay in older persons. Aging does not always result in a dry mouth. More than 500 drugs, including those for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain, anxiety or depression, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, can cause it as a side effect. Any medications your loved one is taking should be disclosed to your Airdrie dentist. 
  • Gum disease – The bacteria in plaque are what create periodontal disease, which affects many older adults. Up until the severe stages, gum disease can be painless. If left untreated, the gums peel away from the teeth and create pockets where debris from meals and additional plaque can gather. The gums, bones, and ligaments that support teeth will eventually be destroyed by advanced gum disease, resulting in tooth loss. Gum disease can be treated or avoided with frequent dental checkups. Gum disease is twice as likely to occur in those with diabetes. It is more difficult to combat infections, especially gum and oral infections when blood sugar levels are poorly managed. Gum disease makes it more difficult to regulate blood sugar. Blood sugar management, infection resistance, and oral health are all tightly related.
  • Dental care and dementia – Focus on routine treatment and avoiding the need for expensive operations later on when dementia is still in its early stages. Oral hygiene is harder to maintain in the middle and late stages of dementia. The individual may be unwilling to accept assistance from others and need to remember how to use toothpaste or rinse and spit. Food that we would typically swish around in the mouth with a drink of water and swallow may stay in the mouth, sticking to the teeth and gums as the tongue and throat muscles weaken. Even before brushing, rinsing the teeth with water and a mouth sponge might be beneficial.

Dentures

Ask your dentist in Airdrie for specific care recommendations if the individual you care for wears dentures. During mealtime, be alert for any mouth discomfort symptoms. They are refusing to eat or making painful facial expressions while eating could be signs of oral pain or improperly fitting dentures.
To know more about how to take care of your oral health, visit Sierra Springs Dental today. Call us at 403-945-4555 to book an appointment.