Dental Care For Seniors & Older People

My Name is Dr. Sonia Sharma, and today I am honored to be here to talk about the importance of dental care among our respected seniors. I am very thankful to our dear patient Mr. Gandhi for this invitation they have accorded to me. I will talk on few but important things like:

1. Why Good Oral Health Is Important for Older People?
2. Oral Health Problems That Elderly People Experience
3. Dental Disease
4. Preventing Dental Disease
5. Nutrition and exercise

In the end I will allow for an open forum for any questions. During the discussion, if you have any questions, please keep them for the end. I will try to answer all of them.

I would like to introduce, my husband and accountant Rakesh who will answer your questions on the services we provide and any questions that relates to financial terms.

Why Good Oral Health Is Important for Elderly People?

The link between general health and oral health is important. Problems with teeth, gums and dentures can significantly affect the overall well being of an older person and their ability to age positively. For example:

• Pain and difficulty with eating can lead to poor levels of nutrition.
• A dry mouth can be caused by medications taken by older people and can affect appearance
  and lead to difficulty in speaking and eating.
• Poor appearance and dental incapacity can lead to low self-esteem and social isolation.
• Poor oral health can compromise other health conditions, such as diabetes, aspiration pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.

It is important for older people & seniors to maintain good oral hygiene. For those wearing dentures (false teeth), it is also important to maintain a healthy mouth and ensure that dentures fit well and are kept in good repair.

Oral Health Problems That Seniors Or Older People Experience
As people get older, the need for dental care increases. This is associated with the breakdown of existing fillings and dental decay of exposed root surfaces of teeth. The prevalence and severity of periodontal (gum) disease also increases with age. Other common dental problems experienced by older people include a dry mouth and loss of teeth.

Dental Disease
Two major dental diseases are:

• Dental caries (dental decay)
• Periodontal (gum) disease.

Dental Decay
Dental decay is a diet-related infectious disease and is the most common disease affecting teeth. Although it is widespread in here, it is avoidable by adopting simple preventive procedures. Dental decay is caused by the interaction of sugar and plaque to produce acids. Acids dissolve the enamel (outer) layer of the tooth. Bacteria in plaque produce these acids after ingesting sugars commonly found in our diet. Plaque is a sticky film containing a large variety of bacteria together with food by-products and saliva. It is found adhered to the teeth when oral hygiene is neglected. Plaque cannot be removed by rinsing or chewing on fibrous foods such as apples, carrots or celery. Only correct tooth brushing and flossing or cleaning by a dental professional can remove plaque. Sugars differ in their ability to cause dental decay. Sugars that is relatively safe for teeth are those found in unflavored milk and milk products and whole fruit and vegetables. Sugars that are harmful to teeth include sucrose (ordinary sugar) added to manufactured foods, fruit juice and honey. Dental decay is influenced by how often sugar is consumed rather than the total amount of sugar eaten. It is best to limit sugar intake to meal times, as the salivary flow is higher at these times. Saliva assists in clearing sugars from the mouth so there is less time for acid production.

Periodontal Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease is a condition that is more common and severe in adults. Its prevalence and severity increases with age. Certain bacteria in plaque that accumulate on the gum line of teeth cause it. These bacteria produce toxins that seep down between the gum and the tooth, irritating the gum tissues and causing them to become reddened, inflamed and bleed. If the plaque is not cleaned away the toxins may gradually destroy the fibers and the bone that hold teeth in place. This eventually leads to the loosening of teeth.

Preventing Dental Disease
Oral disease is largely preventable through oral hygiene.

Oral Hygiene
Research shows that:

• Control of plaque formation is important in preventing dental decay and periodontal disease. Tooth brushing and other mechanical procedures are the most reliable means of controlling plaque. A normal soft toothbrush is recommended, although some special shaped brushes may also be effective.\
• No particular technique of tooth brushing is recommended but brush strokes should be repeated sufficiently to remove plaque. (Excessive horizontal brushing can damage the tooth margin near the gums and promote calculus and decay).
• Tooth brushing alone cannot clean between the teeth. Use of dental floss or tape is an effective means of cleaning between the teeth. . Cleaning by a dental professional can assist in preventing dental disease. Chemical control of plaque by using mouth rinses (especially chlorhexidine) is safe and effective. It can be used in the short term where mechanical tooth cleaning is not possible or is difficult or inadequate.
• Instructing and motivating a person in oral hygiene, together with regular visits to a dental practice with professional feedback and reinforcement seems to be most successful approach to preventing relapse and disease progression.4

Nutrition
Nutrition plays an important role in senior health. Not only does a well-balanced diet keep a person from becoming obese, that same diet is a safeguard against health conditions that seniors face. Proper diet can help prevent a condition like diabetes or keep it from worsening.
The senior diet should consist of foods that are low in fat, particularly saturated fat and cholesterol. A person should choose foods that provide nutrients such as iron and calcium. Other healthy menu choices include:

• fish, skinless poultry, and lean meat
• proteins such as dry beans (red beans, navy beans, and soybeans), lentils, chickpeas, and peanuts
• low-fat dairy products
• vegetables, especially those that are dark green and leafy
• citrus fruits or juices, melons, and berries
• whole grains like wheat, rice, oats, corn, and barley
• whole grain breads and cereals

Physical activity should be rhythmic, repetitive, and should challenge the circulatory system. It should also be enjoyable so that a senior gets in the habit of exercising regularly for 30 minutes each day. It may be necessary to check with a doctor to determine the type of exercise that can be done.

Walking is recommended for weight loss, stress release, and many other conditions. Brisk walking is said to produce the same benefits as jogging. Other forms of exercise can include gardening, bicycling, hiking, swimming, dancing, skating or ice-skating. If weather prohibits outdoor activities, a person can work out indoors with an exercise video.

Exercise also offers a chance to socialize. In some cities, groups of seniors meet for regular walks at shopping malls. Senior Centres offer exercise classes ranging from line dancing to belly dancing.

Costs for exercise range from the price of walking shoes to the fees for joining a gym. We feel that it is our moral responsibility towards our seniors and mostly they being on low budget, we provide special discounts for dental n most dental treatments. Sometime this discounts may be as much as 20% or more. Please keep checking our monthly treatment specials!

Please remember that the information is provided as general information. It is NOT intended to replace professional care. Since every patient and every case may vary, consult your physician or dentist for advice on your particular situation.

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