Oral health problems deteriorate more as a humans gets older. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how well they take care of their teeth, age plays a major role in the mouth of elderly people causing oral health problems.
Chronic diseases and the bulk of oral diseases share similar risk factors. Overall, bad oral health problems in older people were particularly evident in elevated tooth loss levels, the incidence of dental caries, and the prevalence rates of periodontal disorder, xerostomia, and oral precancer cancer. The adverse effect of bad oral conditions on the quality of life of older adults is a significant health problem that everyone must take note of.
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However, there are many preventive measures young people can take to save their teeth and every part of their body before they become old. It is important to look after your original teeth ( the teeth you were born with) before you seek dental implants as an alternative.
6 Oral Health Problems Elderly People Encounter Most
- Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)
Sadly, certain drugs have an annoying side effect on dry mouth. A lot of the elderly people are on medication for various ailments and dry mouth is one of the side effects of most medications. Some people who do not take medication may also get dry mouth. As a person grows older, saliva production declines and triggers dry mouth.
Patients with persistent xerostomia may have numerous oral and dental complications, including dental caries, periodontal disease, fungal diseases, damaged dentures, and alterations of taste.
Keeping your mouth moist is crucial since dry mouth may cause a lot of different oral health problems.
- Receding Gums
Many individuals have gums that recede as they lack the daily care, such as brushing and flossing. Many nerves are exposed when the gums pull away from the teeth and this can be extremely painful.
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Receding gums may increase the likelihood of losing teeth, and more gum and mouth discomfort. The key to these oral health problems is prevention.
- Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a “high sugar intake” disorder as well as failure to take proper care of the teeth. Many elderly people do not take care of their teeth because they are too busy or less concerned. For them, it’s too much hassle because their teeth are sore and they don’t want to make their teeth and mouth worse.
Tooth decay may lead to an infection that could enter the bloodstream and cause certain parts of the body to suffer physical injury. It is critical that tooth decay is avoided at all costs.
Regular visits to the dentist can be very beneficial. Fixing tooth decay, typically through replacement of a decayed tooth, is also important to prevent more harm to your teeth.
- Gum Disease
Gum disease is a painful condition triggered by plaque and bacteria remaining on the teeth and gums. This is also due to a lack of mouth-care and brushing.
Smoking or chewing tobacco-containing products are another source of this periodontal condition. These products cause gum irritation and can be unpleasant which ultimately lead to the need for dental implants or fake teeth.
- Root Caries
Root caries in older adults today is one of the most severe dental issues. Many studies have found that older adults are at higher risk of developing root caries.
Owing to dentures, a loss of mobility, a change from complex to simple sugars and bad oral health, elderly people are at risk for root caries. In older adults, reduced salivary flow and its associations with other social/behavioural and medical influences may provide a more comprehensive explanation for a higher root caries level.
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As the teeth get older, elderly people develop root caries and gingival recession, placing them at an even greater risk of periodontal disease. Root caries is the primary cause of tooth loss in older adults, and tooth loss is the most serious oral health-related problems affecting the elderly people’s quality of life.
Ways to prevent caries is to chew sugar-free gums, take Vitamin D, brush with fluoride toothpaste and Cut out sugary foods.
- Oral Cancer
As a person grows older, the risk of contracting oral cancer increases. Like the other oral health problems listed above, enlightenment is the best way to prevent oral cancer.
Besides daily brushing, flossing and taking care of your teeth and gums, it is important to have a bi-annual dental check-up in a qualified dental clinic. Dental checkups can help identify early diseases on time and that can save an individual’s life.
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Final Advice
It is just as essential to care for ageing teeth and gums as it is for digestive or cardiovascular health. Analysis has shown that gum disease and heart disease are linked. Maintaining proper oral health is a powerful weapon against cardiac attacks, strokes and other forms of heart failure.
To guarantee that older adults have a long and healthy life, ensure that they take care of their oral health problems as well as their physical and mental health.
A Dental Implant is a solution suggested by doctors when medicinal treatment is not possible. This can be due to many reasons like bad oral hygiene, tooth decay, and gum problems For Dental Implants generally, a single or a small number of teeth along with their roots are replaced to stop other teeth from getting destroyed.