Bad Breath and Poor Oral Health - Special Needs for Senoirs

1.Information 2. Changes As We Grow Older 3. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Special Needs as We Grow Older

Many of the Baby Boomers are starting to realize the impact that poor oral health can have on their teeth and are doing something about it. No longer is it accepted that you have to lose your teeth as you grow older. Many older adults are keeping most, if not all, of their adult teeth.

In another 20 or so years approximately 20 percent of the population will be 65 or older. This may put an extra demand on dental professionals and they may not be properly equipped do deal with the special oral health needs. Gums and teeth both have special health needs along with a person's age.

What types of things happen to our oral health as we grow older:

Losing more of our natural tooth surface due to years of fillings, crowns and other tooth repair procedures
A reduction in the flow of saliva (dry mouth or xerostomia) due to medication, illnesses, age and diet
Years of using alcohol based and non-fluoride mouthwashes can cause oral health problems
Reduction in medical and dental benefits may reduce dental examinations
Home-bound seniors that have restricted physical mobility and no convenient transportation to dental or medical offices
Physical aliments such as arthritis can affect brushing and flossing properly

As noted on the previous page, there is a lot of research that shows an elevated risk of systemic diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory and diabetes due to poor oral health care. Keeping up with a daily oral health program can help reduce the associated risks of poor oral health.

So, what can be done to help?

Education is at the top of the list. Making sure older adults realize that you don't have to suffer and that tooth loss is often the result of oral disease and not age.

Home care. Start and continue a daily oral health routine using only low-abrasion toothpastes, floss, tongue scrapers and an alcohol free mouthwash. Alcohol free mouthwashes are important since alcohol will dry the oral cavity and destroy even the good bacteria we need in our mouth. It's never too late to start a daily home care program!

Change eating habits. As we get older we sometimes tend to snack more often which involve eating more drinks and foods that are higher in sugar content. Try to limit these types of snacks and drink more water.

Schedule regular dental visits and keep the communication open with your dentist. Inform them of any changes in your medical history, health conditions, medications you're taking, etc... Individuals have different medical conditions and your dentist needs to know this in order to help prevent harmful drug interactions or health conditions.

Oral cancer screening. Thousands of Americans die annually due to oral cancer. Early detection is key to survival. Recent studies have shown an increased risk in oral cancer due to excessive use of alcohol based mouthwashes. Even if you don't have teeth (only dentures) it is still vital to see a dentist at least once a year. Anyone with an oral lesion or sore that doesn't heal after two weeks should see their dentist immediately.

Encourage family members to take an active role. Children of older adults should actively participate in their parent's oral health needs. Help schedule dental visits, provide transportation and even purchase the proper oral health products outlined in the 'Home care' section above. Homebound seniors should contact local dental organizations regarding mobile dentistry.

Nursing home residents need special attention. If in a nursing home inquire about their dental programs with the care provider. According to the Academy of General Dentistry web site, "Currently 1.5 million seniors receive care in 16,700 nursing homes and 50 to 70 percent of those nursing home residents experience total tooth loss."

As you can see, the benefits of a good oral health program impact us our entire life.

Continue on to: Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

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