• Improved oral health can lead to improved quality of life.
• Medications can cause dry mouth causing more dental problems.
• Inability to perform adequate home care.
• Periodontal [gum] disease increases with age.
• Dental disease has an impact on general health with links to heart disease, diabetes, stroke and pneumonia.
• Early periodontal [gum] disease is painless allowing problems to be left untreated.
• Decreased mobility makes receiving regular care more difficult.
• Oral cancer screening improving early detection.

Good dental health is vital for everyone because a healthy mouth is important for speaking, chewing, and overall health. This is why it is essential that all older adults receive good preventive dental care on a regular basis. The elderly today are much more likely to keep their teeth than previous generations.

The older adult is more susceptible to caries (cavities); contributing factors include lack of oral hygiene, infrequent dental cleanings, salivary gland dysfunction, frequent snacking and removable partial dentures. (Traps food around teeth) Adults of all ages develop caries on the crown of the tooth but the older adult is also more susceptible to root surface caries because of bone loss around the teeth. Increased number of medications can cause xerostomia (dry mouth) that increases the risk of caries. The saliva acts as our natural defence against dental caries as well as periodontal disease. These root surfaces are softer and therefore decay easier. For these reasons regular fluoride applications in the older adult are an essential element of the dental hygiene process.

Periodontal disease is a silent but common disease among older adults. Periodontal disease is caused by bacterial plaque attacking the bone that supports the teeth. When this bone is lost the tooth is lost. Research shows the best treatment of gum disease is regularly cleaning the space between the tooth and gums to remove bacterial plaque.

Dental problems can boost the risk pneumonia in the elderly. Better dental care among the elderly – especially in nursing homes – could reduce cases of aspiration pneumonia, according to research. Aspiration pneumonia is an infection that occurs after bits of food or stomach contents are inhaled into the lungs. Patients were at higher risk for this type of pneumonia if they had dental plaque or mouth bacteria. A study was conducted and it was found nursing home residents who received regular dental cleanings were not only less likely to contract pneumonia, but also less likely to die from the infection if they did develop one.

Many conditions evident in the older adult such as Arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia make caring for their teeth difficult often resulting in poor oral hygiene conditions.

The oral cavity can be an entry for infections that affect the whole body. Oral diseases give rise to pathogens, which can be blood borne or aspirated into the lungs bringing about severe, even life-threatening consequences. Recent research findings have pointed to possible associations between chronic oral infections and diabetes, heart and lung disease, and stroke.

Aging has an impact on oral tissues just as it has on other tissues throughout the body. As teeth age, the enamel, dentin and pulp undergo progressive changes. This can cause significant problems because decay and/or periodontal disease can go untreated resulting in an ongoing infection, which can travel throughout other body systems.

Protect your oral and overall health by getting quality and affordable dental hygiene care from Caring For Smiles.  Call or email us today to schedule your appointment. Remember, our services are fully mobile so we come to you! Call now: (905) 579-5175 or (905) 431-6137

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