Common oral health problems in the elderly

For as long as many of us can remember, brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist’s office every six months has been a regular routine, however, that we didn’t particularly care about. We are told from an early age that good oral hygiene is the key to healthy teeth and gums. If proper care is done throughout our lives, we will have more teeth left when we get older.

However, you likely have elderly grandparents or parents with partial or full dentures. In fact, so many seniors have dentures that subconsciously make both of them synonymous with each other. In some cases, poor oral hygiene is the root cause of a person losing most, if not all, of their teeth. However, this is not the case for everyone. As we age, our teeth wear out like the rest of our bodies, and are therefore more susceptible to diseases, infections, and complications.

Many of the common oral health problems that occur as we age are exacerbated by other health issues and the common medications older people take for those health issues. Specifically, these are the common problems of the teeth and gums that can occur:

• Tooth loss
• mouth cancer
• Thrush
• Cavities (tooth decay)
• Gum disease
• Oral and sinus infections
• Inability to taste
• Dental lesions
• Oral candidiasis
• dry mouth
• mucosal lesions;
• Gum recession

Dry mouth can cause a variety of oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease. As we age, our saliva production gradually decreases. Saliva is the body’s built-in mouth cleaner and plays an essential role in keeping your mouth healthy, working properly and looking great. When not enough saliva is produced, trapped bacteria, mostly in the form of settled food particles, have a better environment to thrive and stick to the teeth. The acid produced by these bacteria erodes tooth enamel, slowly penetrating deep into the teeth. If cavities are not treated, they can lead to tooth death and the tooth will have to be extracted. Untreated, decayed teeth can form an infection at the root of the tooth in the jawbone. The infection can spread into the tissues of the jawbone, making the jaw weaker.

Heart medications and medications used to treat blood pressure, cholesterol, and depression have a known side effect of producing dry mouth.

In addition, the strength of older people’s teeth and gums naturally weaken as a result of many years of use and wear and tear. As we age, for example, tooth enamel, the hard outer protective covering of the teeth, gradually deteriorates, making our teeth more susceptible to infection, decay, infections, and staining.

A lack of taste, whether it’s caused by medications or other underlying health conditions like chronic kidney disease or liver disease, can inadvertently damage older adults’ already compromised oral health. This may include adding excessive salt to flavor food or eating very hot foods that burn the gums.

It is important for seniors to be vigilant about taking care of their oral health. Regular visits to the dentist can help prevent or help progression Oral health problems So that patients can keep their teeth and gums strong.