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Oral Health of Seniors: More Attention Needed |
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -- Looks like it's time
for toothpaste commercials to start featuring
grandparents instead of little kids. According to a
report presented Sunday at the annual meeting of
the American Dental Association, seniors now get
more cavities than children, and have a host of
other dental health issues besides.
"In just one generation, we have advanced from the
majority of seniors having lost all their teeth to the
present day when the vast majority have been able
to retain some or all of their natural teeth," stated
Dr. Randy Huffines of the Quillen Medical Center in
Tennessee. Huffines discussed the challenges of
treating elderly dental patients in a presentation
delivered at the meeting, taking place in Honolulu,
Hawaii.
Because seniors are keeping their teeth, dentists
are seeing increasing numbers of problems such as
cavities and root decay in this age group. Receding
gum tissue, which affects over 95% of seniors,
exposes the roots of teeth and makes them more
vulnerable to decay and infection. Overall, seniors
now have three times more tooth decay than
children.
Many of the medications commonly taken by older
patients decrease the production of
saliva, which
Huffines described as "the body's natural defense
against cavities." In addition, many seniors do not
get enough fluoride, because they either drink
bottled water or use water purifiers that remove
fluoride along with other chemicals.
Huffines also noted that many older people find oral
hygiene more difficult because of physical
disabilities. Of course oral cancer is statistically more
prevalent in senior citizens and should be screened
much more often with OralCDx, a brush biopsy
technique developed from the science made available
from the NASA space program.
Seniors who wear dentures need regular dental
check-ups just as much as those with their natural
teeth, Huffines stated, to insure the continued
health of the oral tissues and make sure dentures
are properly fitted.
Many seniors are afraid of dentists, and Huffines
called on dental professionals to address such
phobias in regular visits so they can provide
appropriate care.