The Importance of Oral Health in the Older Patient

Abstract

Oral health is important to general health because stomatologic disease affects more than the mouth. Increasing preservation of teeth among present and future cohorts of older people has increased their risk for serious disease from oral pathogens. The intent of this paper is twofold: first, to alert non-dental health personnel to the significance of oral health and oral disease in the older adult; and second, to recruit the assistance of non-dental professionals in helping patients to achieve and maintain an optimal oral condition. Normative aging processes alone have little effect on the oral cavity, but common disease processes affecting oral health include tooth loss, dental caries, periodontal diseases, and oral mucosal diseases (including candidiasis and squamous cell carcinoma). Systemic diseases and their treatments frequently affect salivary, oral motor, and oral sensory functions. As a result of bacteremia or aspiration of oral contents, organisms of oral origin can be responsible for serious nonstomatological infections. Clinicians caring for older people need to recognize the importance of stomatological health, include an oral component in the multidisciplinary geriatric assessment, support the education of patients on aspects of dental health, and advocate the expansion of personal and public oral health benefits for older adults.

Relationship Between Ageing and Bone Turnover Markers in Periodontal Disease

“…Ayrıca, yaşlanmayla birlikte organizmanın fizyolojik savunma mekanizmalarının zayıflaması ve sistemik hastalıkların ortaya çıkması kaçınılmazdır 11 . Bu tabloya ilave olarak, diş ve dişeti hastalıklarının da ateroskleroz gibi bazı sistemik hastalıklar için risk faktörü olduğu bildirilmiştir [12][13][14] . Periodontal hastalıkların tanısında kullanılan klinik ölçümler hastalığın şiddeti hakkında bilgi verirken hastalığın aktivitesine ilişkin bilgi veremezler.…”

Care for Older People

“…This result tells us that stimulation in the mouth is transmitted to the brain, and certainly improves the swallowing reflex, which is one of the defensive reflex organisms equipped in the human body. Brushing in the mouth is not only good for the prevention of dental caries and gumboil, or merely for comfort (53), but also very good for the reflex. The elderly people have disuse syndrome of all regions.…”

Oral hygiene and number of oral mucosal lesion correlate with oral health-related quality of life in elderly communities

“…It is assumed that development of dental plaque is faster in elderly compared to young people. 13 One contributory factor for this bad oral hygiene is xerostomia, since the prevalence of xerostomia in elderly is higher than in young people. 21 It is caused as well by systemic disease and side effect of medication.…”

“…That is why education and information about oral hygiene for frail elders should be intensified, since many oral diseases are originated from bad oral hygiene. Bad oral hygiene in elderly is life-threatening condition since it may indirectly cause malnutrition and dehidration, 13 brain abscess, 14 arthritis, 15 cardiovascular disease 16,17 and pneumonia 18 those are originated from periodontal disease. This statement was supported by studies at many institutions of elderly in Scotland.…”