Oral Health Care for Seniors (65+)

  Our oral health is largely impacted by the steps we take at home to keep our mouths clean. In order to maintain a clean and healthy mouth, it is important to remove the dental plaque from the teeth and gums a minimum of twice a day. This is done by brushing, flossing and using other oral hygiene aids. It is especially important for the elderly to have a good home care routine for their mouths because it reduces the potential of developing oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease.  Our mouths naturally contain lots of bacteria. Throughout the day, these bacteria along with food debris form dental plaque on our teeth (NIDCR, 2020). If the dental plaque is not removed regularly it can lead to the formation of calculus and other complications. Calculus occurs on the dentition when the plaque has not been removed. The plaque hardens and becomes calculus and then it can only be removed by seeing your dental hygienist. Plaque that is left on the teeth can also le...

  References Cancer: Taking care of your teeth during treatment . (n.d.). Mouth Healthy. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/c/cancer-after-treatment  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). About heart disease . https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm  Najafipour, H., Malek Mohammadi, T., Rahim, F., Haghdoost, A. A., Shadkam, M., & Afshari, M. (2013, July 9). Association of Oral Health and Cardiovascular Disease Risk factors. ISRN cardiology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3727197/  Oral Health & Risk for CV Disease . (2019) Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11264-oral-health--risk-for-cv-disease

  Oral Cancer Classifications, Risk Factors & Treatment What is Oral Cancer? Oral Cancer is known to be a lesion that is located within the oral cavity. According to CDHO, oral cancers can be found anywhere on the lips, cheeks, gums, teeth, floor of mouth, tongue, oropharynx, tonsils, and salivary glands. Common sites where oral cancer can be found are the lower lip, lateral border of tongue (CDHO, n.d.).                                                  Factors That Contribute to Oral Cancer: It is known that using tobacco and alcohol increases the chances of having oral cancer. However, according to CDHO, it has been said that twenty five percent of oral cancer cases have no major risk factors such as using any of the following:   - tob...

 

  The Oral-Systemic Connection, 2021. Often dental hygiene is thought of as being as simple as keeping your teeth clean. Most people don’t know how it is so much more important than that. There has been evidence showing an important link between oral health and systemic health. Both affecting each other. (Kapila, 2021).  Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria infects the surrounding tissues of teeth eventually causing recession of the gums and surrounding bone. (CDC, 2013). If this is mixed with a susceptible person due to systemic health, both conditions can be negatively affected (Kapila, 2021).                       Especially notable conditions and habits are diabetes, obesity, pregnancy, eating disorders, smoking, liver disease, cancer and heart disease. In further detail, the body has all different kinds of bacteria just like the oral cavity does. Susceptible people may have a decreased immune system and allow thes...

  Dental Prosthetics                      (Fishman, 2021) What are Dentures? Dentures are removable prosthetics that help replace any missing teeth. Dentures are usually removable and attach to the surrounding gums and tooth structure to help support them. There are some occasions when dental prosthesis may be fixed and can not be removed from the mouth (Spring Complete Care Dentistry, n.d.). The following fixed dental prosthesis can include  Bridges  Crown + Implant  Bridges are a great option to replace 1 or 2 teeth but cannot be applied when a patient has 2 or more missing teeth as bridges are anchored with a natural tooth (Spring Complete Care Dentistry, n.d.).  Types of Dentures  There are two types of dentures and they are either partial or complete dentures. Partial dentures help replace one or more missing teeth whereas complete dentures help rep...