Dental Care Tips For Seniors

Dental Care Tips For Seniors: Keep Smiling Bright Throughout your Senior Years

“Don’t forget to floss” is a statement we’ve heard our dentist say throughout our life, and as we get into our senior years, taking care of our dental hygiene is as important as it ever was. We need to be sure to continue brushing and flossing as we always did. But being a senior presents its own set of challenges for keeping up a great smile.

As webmd.com points out: Age in and of itself is not a dominant or sole factor in determining oral health. However, certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hands and fingers, may make brushing or flossing teeth difficult to impossible to perform. Drugs can also affect oral health and may make a change in dental treatment necessary.

Daily brushing and flossing of natural teeth is essential to keeping them in good oral health. Plaque can build up quickly on the teeth of seniors, especially if oral hygiene is neglected, and lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

 

Dental Concerns for Seniors

Advancing age puts many seniors at risk for a number of oral health problems, such as:

• Darkened teeth. 
  Caused, to some extent, by changes in dentin — the bone-like tissue that underlies the tooth enamel — and by a lifetime of consuming stain-causing foods and beverages. Also caused by thinning of the outer enamel layer that lets the darker yellower dentin show through.
• Dry mouth. 
  Dry mouth is caused by reduced saliva flow, which can be a result of cancer treatments that use radiation to the head and neck area, as well as certain diseases, such as Sjögren's syndrome, and medication side effects. Many medicines can cause dry mouth.
• Diminished sense of taste. 
  While advancing age impairs the sense of taste, diseases, medications, and dentures can also contribute to this sensory loss.
• Root decay. 
  This is caused by exposure of the tooth root to decay-causing acids. The tooth roots become exposed as gum tissue recedes from the tooth. Roots do not have any enamel to protect them and are more prone to decay than the crown part of the tooth.
• Gum disease. 
  Caused by plaque and made worse by food left in teeth, use of tobacco products, poor-fitting bridges and dentures, poor diets, and certain diseases, such as anemia, cancer, and diabetes, this is often a problem for older adults.
• Tooth loss. 
  Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss.
• Uneven jawbone. 
  Caused by losing a tooth then not replacing missing teeth. It allows the rest of the teeth to drift and shift into open spaces
• Denture-induced stomatitis. 
  Ill-fitting dentures, poor dental hygiene, or a buildup of the fungus Candida albicans cause this condition, which is inflammation of the tissue underlying a denture.
• Thrush. 
  Diseases or drugs that affect the immune system can trigger the overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans in the mouth.

 

Senior Dental Care Checklist

• Visit your dentist regularly. 
  Regular dental exams/checkups and teeth cleanings are just as important as ever — even if you’ve been diligent about brushing and flossing. Remember, regular dental visits can save you money on more expensive dental treatment, including gum disease treatment, in the future. 
• Get professional denture care. 
  Using an over-the-counter denture repair kit is temporary solution at best. If your dentures start to fit wrong, be sure to see a dentist for a professional denture reline.
• Switch to an electric toothbrush if necessary.
  An electric toothbrush makes brushing easier. If either arthritis or decreased mobility are an issue for you, consider switching to an electric toothbrush. 
• Consider dental implants to replace missing teeth. 
  Most people think of dentures when they think of missing teeth solutions. But many people choose dental implants to replace missing teeth, because they can look and feel more natural than dentures.

Your mouth is more than just a pretty smile. It’s also a gateway to your overall health. Keeping your teeth clean may keep you healthier longer — and looking younger. 

 

If you’re presently seeking a senior apartment, independent-living, assisted-living, or other continuing-care community for yourself or a senior loved one, don’t forget to visit alternativesforseniors.com to assist your search. Or call an Alternatives for Seniors Senior Specialist at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747).

 

BLOG Date: Thursday, November 6, 2014
Writer: Ryan Allen