3 Things Every Senior Should Know About Dental Health
Change is a constant reality of life. Whether you are a growing child, an adult in middle age, or a senior in their golden years, you are changing - and this constant change means that, throughout life, your approach to oral health care should be adjusted along with your changing dental health needs.
Three Essentials Every Senior Should Know About Dental Health
1. Why Maintaining Oral Health in Old Age Is So Important
Maintaining good oral health can help reduce the risk of various systemic illnesses that are closely associated with gum disease. For example, patients with periodontal disease are at an increased risk of developing problems such as dementia, heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, and chronic respiratory infections. With increased age, the risk of developing many of these conditions can increase. As a result, failing to maintain good oral health can result in a significant risk as a person ages.
In addition to safeguarding general health by preventing gum disease, good oral health also helps adults maintain proper diet and nutrition as the function of the teeth is integral to chewing and proper digestion.
Better oral health is also associated with a better quality of life, and maintaining your oral health with good oral hygiene and preventative dentistry can also save you money on more expensive treatments for more complicated oral health problems.
2. Common Senior Dental Health Concerns
Senior patients should be aware of the oral health problems that can arise as they age. For example, age increases the risk of the following oral health concerns:
- Dry mouth
- Lost or diminished sense of taste
- Darkened teeth
- Gingivitis and gum disease
- Root decay
- Tooth loss
- Jawbone degeneration
- Uneven jawbone
- Thrush
- Denture-related stomatitis (mouth sores)
Additionally, age-related issues like arthritis in the hands can make practicing good oral hygiene habits more difficult, and a myriad of medications can also impact oral health.
Dentists can help patients address these concerns with personalized care that is tailored to meet their changing oral health needs. When necessary, we can suggest oral hygiene modifications, strategies for maintaining oral health despite prescription medications, and restorative and cosmetic solutions to help maintain a beautiful, complete, and fully-functioning smile.
3. How Geriatric Dentistry Is Different
During every stage of life, dental care focuses on safeguarding general health by optimizing oral health. As patients age, they are often at a greater risk of developing other health problems that can impact their oral health. Additionally, many older adults have an increased risk of developing oral health issues as a result of medication side effects.
Geriatric dentistry is tailored to address these specific issues, closely monitoring a patient's general health and medications in addition to their oral health to help ensure optimal health, wellness, and quality of life.
Dental care for seniors focuses on maintaining good oral health in addition to proper oral function and comfort with preventative and restorative dental strategies to help seniors maintain their quality of life, facial structure, appearance, speech, and nutrition.
Specialized Dental Care for the Elderly at Great Lakes Dental
At Great Lakes Dental, we provide highly personalized dental care to our patients. We take the time to get to know our patients on an individual basis and familiarize ourselves with their medical histories and current medical concerns. We work with each patient to determine and provide the best, individualized solutions and personalized treatment plans to meet each person's unique oral health needs and smile goals.
To learn more about dental care for seniors or our comprehensive menu of general, restorative, and cosmetic dental treatments, we welcome you to contact our dental office in Mentor, Ohio to request a consultation with one of our dentists today.