The Importance of Oral Hygiene for the Elderly
Oral hygiene should be a consistent effort throughout our lives. However, it’s never been more important for seniors and the elderly to ensure oral hygiene efforts are upheld. This is because, as we age, we can become more prone to general health conditions associated with age such as diabetes and heart disease. These conditions can also affect our dental health and are a contributing factor to periodontal (gum) disease, dental decay, tooth loss, and other oral health issues.
The connection between general health and oral health as we get older can significantly affect our overall well-being. Maintaining a healthy smile can benefit other areas of our health and living. Some examples of how poor oral hygiene can impact us as we age include:
- Pain and difficulty eating foods, which can lead to poor levels of nutrition.
- Dry mouth as a result of prolonged medication use, which can lead to impaired speaking and eating.
- Lower self-esteem due to changes in the appearance of teeth and gums.
- Poorer oral hygiene is connected to other general health diseases.
In essence, to look after our teeth as we get older, we don’t just have to brush and floss, but we also have to look after other parts of our body to maintain a healthy smile.
Myths About Our Teeth as We Get Older
Tooth loss is an inevitable part of the ageing process. — This is false. Tooth loss is not inevitable. Good oral hygiene, prevention, regular treatment, and early intervention in the case of issues assist in keeping your natural teeth.
Denture wearers don’t need to see a dentist. — This is false. Denture wearers should still see a dentist to look over their overall gum health as dentures require healthy gums to support them. Over time, a person’s mouth shape may also alter, which may require them to have their dentures adjusted by their prosthodontist.
Tooth decay is a young person’s disease and periodontal disease is a disease for the old. — This is false. Both dental decay and gum disease can occur at any age. Poor oral hygiene at any age can cause both of these to occur.
Dry mouth is age-related — This is false. Dry mouth can occur at any age, especially as a side effect of some medications.
Not everyone who smokes gets oral cancer — so why stop? — Whilst not everyone will get oral cancer from smoking, it is certainly a significant risk factor. More than 80% of mouth cancers occur as a result of smoking. Those who are heavy drinkers are also at risk of mouth cancer. The impact of smoking is not just linked to cancer but also to other oral hygiene problems such as:
- Teeth yellowing and tooth decay
- Lip cancer
- Leukoplakia
- Smoker’s palate
- Smoker’s melanosis
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Oral infections
- Reduced oral healing capacity
Common Oral Health Problems that Older People Experience
The two main dental diseases that are seen in seniors and the elderly are dental decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
Dental Decay
With dental decay, the foods and drinks we consume make it more of a diet-related disease that affects our teeth. However, as we age, there is also a higher chance of existing filings breaking down, which can cause dental decay from exposing the tooth’s surface.
The interaction of the sugar from foods and drinks we consume with the plaque in our mouths produces an acid that eats away at our enamel.
Sugars differ in their ability to cause dental decay. For instance, the sugars found in unflavoured milk, milk products, and whole fruits and vegetables are relatively safe for our teeth. Sugars that are harmful to our teeth include ordinary sugar (e.g. bagged sugar) and sugars added to manufactured foods, fruit juices, and honey.
Plague, which the sugars combine with, is bacteria that our mouths produce. The sticky film clings onto our teeth, and the only way to remove it is through correct brushing and flossing.
Dental decay does not necessarily occur based on the amount of sugar we consume but on how often harmful sugar is consumed. If consumed on a regular basis, there is a higher chance of dental decay than the occasional sugary treat.
Periodontal Disease
The prevalence and risk of periodontal disease increase as we age. It’s a condition that is more common in adults than children, but it can affect any age.
Gum disease, as it is also known, is caused when bacteria in the plague produced in our mouth accumulate on the gum line of the teeth. The toxins produced by the bacteria get trapped between the tooth and the gum. A common side effect of this is the reddening of gums, inflammation, and bleeding.
If the plague is not cleared away, the toxins may in time destroy the fibres that hold the bone in place, which eventually leads to missing teeth.
Preventing Dental Diseases As We Age
Brushing and flossing are the most reliable methods of controlling the plaque that forms. Reducing the plaque reduces the risk of dental decay and periodontal disease. However, you cannot do one and not the other, it takes both brushing and flossing to keep plaque under control.
Fluoride toothpastes are essential as they inhibit the softening of teeth and assist in the hardening of tooth enamel, which again reduces the risk of dental decay eating away at the tooth’s surface.
Dentures & Dental Implants — Reconstructive Option for Those Who Need It
Unfortunately, for some who have already suffered from the loss of teeth from either periodontal disease or dental decay, the emphasis on oral hygiene is to maintain the teeth they still have and improve the health of their gums.
However, there are reconstruction options available to replace the teeth that have been lost. These two options are dental implants and dentures. These days, seniors and the older generation often opt for one of these options since there was historically a lack of oral hygiene awareness as they were growing up.
Implants and dentures are both good options for anyone who has lost one or more teeth. They allow you to continue to chew and enjoy a wide variety of foods. Both options can look like natural teeth. However, not everyone can choose. Some people have unresolved gum disease or jawbone loss, which means implants aren’t an option. Not everyone is a good candidate for dentures either. If the dentures don’t sit on a ridge of bone in the jaw or remaining teeth, it can be difficult to create a seal to hold them in place.
Improved technology means most people can have dental implants or dentures, so it’s a matter of weighing up the pros and cons and deciding which is best for you.
Need a Second Opinion?
Dental implants and dentures are both great options for replacing missing teeth. Each has its pros and cons, yet the best solution will depend on your specific needs and circumstances.
If you’re weighing up your options — dental implants versus dentures — make an appointment today to talk to one of our experienced prosthodontists to get their opinion.
A second opinion often gives you the confidence that you’re making the right decision. If both opinions are similar in treatment and cost, you can have the treatment done with the comfort of knowing two specialists have a similar opinion.
If the opinions are different, it allows you to do more research and ask more questions so you can then make an informed decision on which provider you’ll use.