Braces versus Retainers: A Comprehensive Overveiw

4 Oral Health Issues Seniors Face

29 December 2015 by Lonnie Bryant

Oral health is an important, yet often overlooked component of a senior citizen's general well-being and health. As a person ages, proper oral health care can become challenging for many seniors. This is especially true when they begin to have problems with arthritis or neurological problems that make them unable to floss or brush their teeth as well as they once did.  Four of the most common oral health issues seniors' face that should be addressed at a dental clinic are found here.

Tooth loss

Tooth loss is very common among the senior citizens. Globally, approximately 30% of the seniors who are aged between 65 and 74 years have no natural teeth. The major causes of tooth loss are dental cavities and periodontal diseases. The complete loss of teeth is commonly found in the senior citizens as well.

Issues Eating

Oral issues can also lead to seniors not eating a healthy diet. Problems such as dentures that don't fit properly, infection, gum disease, cavities and missing teeth can all force seniors to adjust the consistency, quality and overall balance of their diet. This may lead to issues with malnutrition.

Dry Mouth

Also referred to as xerostomia, this is a common issue for quite a few seniors. This results from a reduced flow of saliva, which plays an important role in minimizing tooth decay. Dry mouth for seniors is often the result of medications for chronic conditions or illnesses. Some of the most common medications that cause this problem including pain pills, blood pressure medicine, antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, medicine for incontinence, muscle relaxers and diuretics. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine can help with this problem. Alcohol leads to dehydration which can make the situation worse.  Drinking plenty of water is a good remedy as it hydrates the body.

Gum Disease

This is a gum infection that can affect the tissues that hold your teeth in place. While this problem can affect people of any age, it can become a more serious problem as people get older. In the early stages, this problem is painless, but in advanced cases, it can cause severe pain while chewing.

When appointments are kept for seniors, the dental care provider at a place like Adelaide Smile Centre will be able to remove the plaque that causes gum disease, preventing it from becoming a problem. Regular dental care will ensure great oral health throughout a person's life and minimize the potential of serious or painful oral health issues when a person reaches their Golden Years.

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