Oral Hygiene

 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 lead to developing cavities. The bacteria feed off of the sugars we eat and create an acid that causes the tooth to decay (WHO, 2022). Removing the plaque and reducing the number of bacteria in our mouths decreases the risk of developing tooth decay. Plaque can also irritate the gums and cause bone loss. Periodontal disease is when the gums get an infection which causes them to become red and inflamed and can lead to complications in the mouth including bone loss (NIDCR, 2018). These are the reasons why it is vital to remove the dental plaque from our mouths and keep a good oral hygiene home routine. 


It is recommended that we brush our teeth for a minimum of 2 minutes 2x a day (NIDCR, 2020). Using an electric toothbrush is best for people who struggle with dexterity, as it is easier to maneuver and does a thorough job at removing the plaque. Using a fluoridated toothpaste is best because it helps to prevent cavities from forming. Fluoride strengthens the enamel, which is the outermost layer of the tooth, making it harder for the acid and bacteria to affect the tooth (NICDR, 2022). Using floss or other interdental aids is important because they reach the surfaces of the tooth that the toothbrush cannot. They should be used at least 1x per day. There are many other oral hygiene aids that can be used, such as proxibrushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners and more. Oral hygiene routines are very individual to each person, so finding the products that work well for your mouth and your preferences is important. 



References:


NIDCR. (2020, October). Oral Hygiene. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Retrieved from https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/oral-hygiene 

NIDCR. (2018, October). Periodontal (gum) disease. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Retrieved from https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease 

WHO. (2022, March 15). Oral Health. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health  

Comments

  1. Madison RowsellAugust 3, 2022 at 6:53 AM

    This was a great read and a very thorough description of oral self-care for seniors. Reading this actually reminded me of a point that came up in our GPA workshops a couple of weeks ago. Often time the elderly population (especially those with dementia) pocket their food in their cheeks. This problem is called Dysphasia and is characterized by people having difficulty swallowing their foods, often due to pain when swallowing (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). As you mentioned above, if we don't remove plaque it can lead to build-up of calculus and other complications such as caries. Therefore with people who pocket food in their mouths for long periods of time, it can be hard to avoid these complications, especially since many elderly people have dexterity issues as well as you mentioned above. Overall, I really enjoyed your blog post! It's definitely something we should keep in mind for treating elderly clients in the future!


    References

    Mayo Clinic (n.d.). Dysphasia. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dysphagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20372028

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