Why Oral Health Is So Important for Seniors—and How to Keep Your Mouth Healthy

If you care for an older adult, you probably think about their heart health and brain health.

You probably also make sure they see their primary care doctor at least once a year for regular checkups. Yet do you help them take good care of their oral health?

There are several reasons why good oral health should rank high on your list when you care for seniors.

• Chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease can increase the risk of developing gum disease. These conditions are more common in older adults.
• Tooth loss and other oral conditions can affect your loved one’s ability to chew, eat healthy, and enjoy food. It also could cause pain in the mouth.
• Those with less education, no insurance, and who are a racial or ethnic minority are more likely to have poorer oral health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Here are a few stats regarding oral health in older adults, as shared by the CDC:

• Two in three adults over age 65 have gum disease.
• Almost 20% of those age 65 or over have lost all of their teeth.
• The median age for the diagnosis of oral cancer is 62 years old.

To help provide better oral health for your older loved one, follow these tips:

1. Remind them to brush their teeth at least twice a day. This guide from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reviews how older adults should brush their teeth, shows options for a more ergonomically friendly toothbrush, and demonstrates how to brush someone’s teeth if they can’t do it themselves. A similar resource is available for flossing, which should be done at least once a day. Make sure to use toothpaste that contains fluoride.

2. Plan dental appointments at least twice a year. If cost is a concern—and this is often an issue, especially for older adults—the following guide from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provides several resources to help cover the costs of oral care.

3. Encourage your loved one to avoid smoking or chewing tobacco, which can make oral health worse.

4. Talk to your loved one about the symptoms of dry mouth. Dry mouth is when the mouth does not produce enough saliva. This can make a person more prone to tooth decay and infections. For a person wearing dentures, dry mouth can make them harder to fit. Causes of dry mouth include the use of certain types of medicine, conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, and dehydration. There are products your loved one can use for dry mouth. 

5. Watch for symptoms of oral cancer, including or sore or irritation in the mouth, difficulty chewing or swallowing, numbness in the tongue, or swelling of the jaw. These symptoms aren’t necessarily cancer, but it’s better to contact a dentist to evaluate them early on. If it is cancer, early treatment can make a difference. 

Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management

At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.