Oral Care Strategies for Older Adults

As the years go by, most of us find that our teeth require an increasing amount of care. A cracked tooth here, a root canal there; we start to worry about eventually needing dentures like our parents or grandparents did. What many of us don’t consider is that, as we age, oral health problems can become very serious very quickly.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), losing our teeth with age is not inevitable. Good dental care can help us keep our original teeth for life. However, the ADA does call attention to the increasing dangers of periodontal disease for people of all ages.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 47 percent of the U.S. population aged 30 years and older have mild, moderate or severe periodontitis. Nearly two-thirds of adults over age 65 have moderate to severe periodontal disease.

Unfortunately, caregivers are often most concerned about their loved ones’ predominant health issues, such as dementia, heart failure, or arthritis. Oral care tends…

Continue reading on Agingcare for more about oral care for older adults and how we can help:

Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.   “I hold onto your book as a life preserver and am reading it slowly on purpose…I don’t want it to end.” …Craig William Dayton, Film Composer

Discover the Difference. EGOSAN: The premium incontinence brand caregivers love  –  Now Available on Amazon.