Oral health directly affects overall health and quality of life. In fact, dental disease is a common cause of medical and emergency room visits, according to the American Dental Association. Medications and common chronic illnesses in older adults, such as diabetes or heart disease, put seniors at an increased risk for dental problems.
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Yet, access to senior dental care continues to be a problem in the U.S. Dental care benefits cease upon retirement and routine dental care is not covered by Medicare. Lack of transportation, age-related memory loss, other cognitive problems, and physical disabilities may also lead to missed dentist appointments and poor dental health for seniors.
Good senior dental care may help prevent common problems, like toothaches, gum disease, and tooth loss. Healthy teeth also help older adults enjoy food and eat better. Learn why it’s important to make dental health for seniors a priority and how to help your elderly loved one improve their oral health.
There are some steps you can take to help an elderly loved one maintain good dental health:
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Poor dental health and hygiene could be signs your loved one needs help with activities of daily living. Consider whether it’s time for assisted living, where staff are able to assist with grooming, dressing, medication management, and more, while providing many opportunities for social activities and engagement.
Sources:
American Dental Association. “Oral health topics.”
https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Oral health for older Americans.” https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/adult-oral-health/adult_older.htm.
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National Institute on Aging. “Taking care of your teeth and mouth.”
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth.
Kanzigg LA, Hunt L. “Oral health and hospital-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients: a review of the literature.”
https://jdh.adha.org/content/90/suppl_1/15.
7 reasons to make senior dental care a priority
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