28 Oct 2022 Why is oral hygiene important for senior citizens?
Good oral hygiene is very important for any age group of people. Hence it is very important to follow and maintain proper good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene is required to maintain good health, as it is said that dental health is closely linked with some serious health issues. Hence maintaining proper and good oral hygiene is equally important for elderly people.
The mouth is the passage for different kinds of bacteria to enter the body, and hence it becomes easy for the bacteria to enter the bloodstream and even the nervous system thus destroying the inner parts and the internal organs by spreading various kinds of diseases inside the body.
The immunity system in senior citizens gets less active and hence the elderly people should take several strict precautions to keep themselves safe from the attack of various kinds of diseases. A proper comprehensive oral hygiene routine helps to stop the growth of bacteria inside the mouth and would keep the gums healthy and free from diseases.
There are certain symptoms that elderly people face if they have oral health issues. Some of the symptoms include:
Tooth Decay, Dry mouth, diminished sense of taste, tooth loss, and darkened teeth.
To maintain good dental health even at an elderly age it is important to keep the teeth and the gums clean and healthy. Even by getting monitored by the dentist on the regular basis.
Steps to achieve healthy oral hygiene at elderly age:
Daily Cleaning:
Brushing your teeth on a regular basis since your earlier years helps you to achieve a healthier set of teeth throughout your lifetime. The habit of brushing and flossing your teeth helps you to achieve good oral hygiene, as brushing is the very first step in building a defense system against bacteria. It is seen that senior citizens are more likely to get gum diseases and tooth decay, and it is a good idea to increase efforts to maintain good oral health and fight cavities.
Denture Cleaning:
Just like natural teeth, even dentures need to get cleaned every day. Unlike natural teeth, dentures cannot be cleaned with regular toothpaste. It gets too harsh and even does more damage than good. Other than that try using products that are designed for cleaning the dentures. Just soaking the dentures will not help to get rid of the bacteria which accumulates throughout the day. Even dentures need to be cleaned each day to maintain healthy gums.
Dentist Visits:
Frequent dentist visits for maintaining proper dental care are very important for senior citizens. Frequent dental visits are very important for senior citizens as the dentist will recognize the symptoms and would cure the problems related to gum diseases. Even frequent visits to the dentist at senior age will help you to care for your oral health as the dentist would recommend you to follow proper precautions to maintain proper hygiene. Senior citizens should follow a proper lifestyle and diet to maintain proper oral health care.
Diet and Lifestyle:
A proper diet and a healthy lifestyle help to maintain good oral health even at an elderly age. Maintaining a proper diet by including more fruits and vegetables will automatically help to keep your teeth and gums healthy even during old age.
Why do old people suffer from more dental problems?
There are several reasons why senior citizens suffer from various kinds of dental problems. Some of the common causes which occur during old age include.
Respiratory infection:
One of the most common causes of which elderly people suffer is pneumonia, as some elderly people often suffer from diminished lung capacity because of aging. When you have been infected with teeth or gum disease, then you are breathing that bacteria. This bacteria can even travel from your lungs and that can even cause infections as well.
Diabetic Complications:
Diabetes is a disease that is very common among senior citizens. Even blood sugar is tough to maintain once you are suffering from gum disease. Diabetes is more prone to periodontal disease, which is caused due to the reduction in blood circulation.
Cardiovascular Disease:
An excessive build-up of bacteria in the mouth can easily get into the bloodstream through the gum tissues or by abrasions. Through this more bacteria gets inside the bloodstream with this the bacteria get easy passage to travel and induce an infection. Bacteria also cause hardening in the arteries and even around the heart which increases the risk of a blood flow blockage, which results in a stroke or heart attack.
How senior citizens should maintain oral hygiene:
Plaque easily gets accumulated among elderly people. To keep this problem away regular brushing and flossing are always required to maintain proper good oral health. If oral hygiene is neglected it leads to tooth decay and gum disease.
For maintaining good oral health even in old age one should follow a few steps:
- Brush the teeth twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride.
- Flossing your teeth at least once a day.
- Rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash for once or twice a day.
- Visit your dentist for a regular dental checkup and go through an oral exam to keep the dental problems at bay.