What You Need to Know About Dental Health in the Elderly

Dental health is sometimes thought of as an issue that mainly affects children. However, good oral health is important throughout your lifespan, including older age. Maintaining strong, healthy teeth, gums and mouths into our older age can help to prevent health complications and maintain your independence. Without a healthy mouth, everyday tasks like talking, swallowing and chewing can become difficult or painful. 

Unfortunately, dental decay is common in Australia, including among older people. Over time, poor oral hygiene and other habits can lead to the build-up of plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance that contains a wide range of bacteria that can attack and erode the enamel which protects your teeth. This can lead to tooth erosion and also gum disease.

Taking good care of your oral and dental health can become more challenging as you age. You may experience limited mobility or reduced physical abilities. You may also start to experience memory challenges or difficulty carrying out your usual activities. Luckily, support is available to help keep your oral health in good condition.

Read on to find out more about the importance of dental health as we age and some top tips to help keep your loved one’s teeth and mouth as healthy as possible. 

What Is Oral and Dental Health?

Oral health refers to the overall health, well-being and hygiene of your mouth, teeth and gums. Oral health is a fundamental part of your overall health and wellbeing. Without good dental and oral health, your ability to lead a fulfilling life can be severely limited. Oral health is vital to eating, speaking, socialising and feeling confident in your smile. Oral health is also an important indicator of other health conditions. Most oral health conditions are preventable and can be effectively treated if detected in their early stages. Some of the most common oral health conditions include cavities (caries) of your permanent teeth, periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancers, traumas (injury) to the mouth, and cleft lip and palates. 

Despite the importance of dental health, serious inequities exist in access to quality dental care, treatment and prevention. The high cost of seeing a private dentist and the long waiting lists for public dental poses barriers to socioeconomically disadvantaged Australians achieving a good quality of oral health. In Australia, 3 out of 10 people delay or avoid going to the dentist because of the high cost. This can turn a simple oral health issue with an easy fix into a serious health condition with ongoing impacts on your wellbeing. 

Why Is Oral Health Important?

It can be tempting to neglect our dental health, especially if we have other pressing priorities or health concerns to deal with. Unfortunately, if you neglect your oral health for too long, you increase your risk of experiencing other health issues, some of which can become serious. The most common oral health conditions are dental cavities and gum disease. Left untreated, the oral disease destroys tissues in your mouth. This can lead to physical and psychological ill health and disability, including complications like:

• Inability to chew and swallow properly, which can impair nutrition
• Poor general health as a result of poor nutrition
• Poor dental health is also linked with other chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and stroke
• Development of oral cancers
• Mouth infections can infect other major organs such as the heart and lungs
• Adverse pregnancy outcomes
• Oral disease is linked with higher rates of diabetes
• Digestion problems arising from poor chewing and/or nutrition
• Oral and facial pain
• Psychological distress as a result of pain and/or facial deformities
• Isolation and loneliness due to communication difficulties arising from oral disease.

The Importance of Good Oral Health for the Elderly Australians

Dental and oral health typically declines with age. Older Australians have a greater number of decayed, missing or filled teeth than younger Australians on average. By the time the average Australian reaches 75 years or older, they have around 24 missing, decayed or filled teeth. This can have serious ongoing health and social implications for the individual as well as their family members, loved ones and caregivers. 

Frail older people face additional barriers to good oral and dental health, including physical and financial access to dental services. Some older people are more likely to have other comorbid chronic diseases, which can be exacerbated by dental or oral health issues. Some chronic diseases can also make dental health worse. For example, some medications used to treat certain chronic diseases can lead to dry mouth. Dry mouths without sufficient saliva can increase the risk of tooth decay. 

Effective dental health care needs to be holistic and take into account the person’s overall wellbeing, current medications, social support and access to financial and practical resources. 

Common Oral and Dental Health Concerns for Older Australians

Australia’s population is ageing, meaning that a larger proportion of Australians are now aged 65 and over. In 2020, around 16% of Australians were 65 years of age or more. Older Australians face unique challenges in maintaining good oral health and require a tailored approach to address these barriers. Older Australians have an average of 13.7 missing teeth, and more than half have periodontitis (gum disease). More than 1 in 4 older Australians avoid certain foods due to issues with their teeth, gums or dentures. Older Australians are more likely to be on a fixed income such as a pension, creating financial barriers to effective and timely dental care. 

In 2017-2018, among Australians aged 75 and over:

• 22% avoided or delayed seeing their dentist due to the cost
• 18% said they would struggle to pay a $200 dental bill
• 9.8% said the cost prevented them from getting needed dental treatment.

Most serious oral and dental health problems are preventable if treated early. Some of the most common oral health issues among older people include the following:

• Increased likelihood of serious gum disease (periodontitis) 
• Dry mouth
• Filling breakdown
• Tooth loss
• Dental decay
• Difficulty accessing dental care
• Chronic health conditions and medications that harm dental health
• Poor nutrition due to dental issues disrupting eating habits
• Health problems arise as a result of poor dental and oral health.

How to Improve Your Elderly Loved Ones’ Oral Health

Oral and dental health complications can become more likely and serious as we age. However, with good dental hygiene practices and regular checkups, there are plenty of things you can do to support your own oral health or that of someone you love well into later life. Here are some ways you can protect your elderly loved ones’ oral health at any age.

1. Brushing and Flossing

Brushing and flossing is a crucial part of oral health and hygiene. It helps remove particles of food and clean your teeth from sugars, starches and plaque that build up over the day. You should always brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night, using fluoridated toothpaste. Electric toothbrushes are more effective at cleaning your teeth and can be easier for older people to hold. Electric toothbrushes require less physical exertion than manual brushes, making them a great choice for people of any age.

Flossing is just as important as brushing. Unfortunately, many people fail to floss daily. Ideally, you should floss every night to remove anything stuck between your teeth. Floss or interdental brushes clean areas of your mouth that your toothbrush can’t reach. If you struggle to remember to floss, set a reminder in your phone or put your dental floss somewhere obvious for a visual reminder. 

2. Dietary Habits

The choices we make about what to eat and drink every day can have a significant impact on our oral health. Choosing foods that are high in sugar, salt or starches can cause plaque to build up on your teeth and gums. Carbonated drinks can also decay the tissues in your mouth, especially if they are sweetened with sugar. Certain medications and drinks like alcohol have a drying effect on the mouth. Dry mouths lack saliva, which is important for breaking down the acid produced by our mouth when we eat. Chronic underproduction of saliva can increase your risk of dental and oral health issues.

As we age, some of us lose some of our receptive taste buds. This can make it more difficult to appreciate the sweetness of certain foods and lead to adding more sugar to teas, baked goods and other food. Older people need to be particularly careful with adding sugar to their food, as many people produce less saliva with age. Saliva is important for breaking down sugars and neutralising acids that can cause tooth decay. Be careful to limit your sugar intake or opt for tooth-friendly sweeteners like xylitol or stevia. Rinsing out your mouth with water after eating or drinking high-sugar foods can also help to prevent plaque build-up.

3. Regular Dental Appointments

Going to the dentist is not always the most exciting outing. However, regular checkups are so important for the prevention and early detection of dental and oral health issues. The sooner your dentist is aware of any problems with your mouth, teeth or gums, the more likely that treatment will be effective. Detecting problems early can also reduce the cost and pain associated with treatment. Regular dentist visits and cleanings can prevent a wide range of oral health issues and offers the following benefits.

• Keep your teeth white and give you confidence in your smile.
• Prevent tooth loss or replace them with dentures. When not replaced, lost teeth can disturb the alignment of your other teeth. This can lead to difficulties eating and nutritional deficiencies, as well as a more aged appearance and the loss of other teeth.
• Prevent heart disease. There is a link between oral health and heart diseases such as stroke, heart attacks and other conditions. Keeping a healthy mouth can help reduce your risk of these severe illnesses.
• Prevent and detect gum disease early. Gum disease can be serious, especially in older age. Gum disease often has few or no obvious symptoms until it is already quite advanced. Regular checkups can help you to find it early and intervene with treatment before it starts to impact your quality of life.

Ensure you see your dentist at least once every 6 – 12 months to maintain a healthy mouth, teeth and gums well into your golden years. Some older adults may need to go to the dentist more regularly if they have preexisting oral health conditions.

4. Denture Care

Taking good care of your dentures is as important as taking care of your own natural teeth. Always follow the denture care tips provided by your dentist. If you are unsure, contact your dentist’s office and request written instructions that you can refer to in the future. Take your dentures out at night to keep them hygienic and in good condition. Clean your dentures regularly according to your dentists’ instructions.

5. Other Lifestyle Factors

Other healthy habits that support good oral and dental health include the following.

• Stay hydrated. If you experience a dry mouth, drinking enough water is important to keep your mouth hydrated and resistant to bacteria build-up.
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash.
• Quit smoking.
• Chew sugar-free gum between meals.
• Rinse your mouth with water after snacks or meals, especially those high in sugar.
• Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
• If you or a loved one struggle to remember your oral health habits, provide visual or audible reminders such as smartphone alarms or written notes around the home.

How Homage Can Help Protect Your Loved Ones’ Oral Health

Staying on top of your dental health isn’t easy, especially if you are managing other health conditions, or have limited mobility. This is where Homage’s team of highly trained, compassionate and dedicated Care Professionals come in. Our professional home nurses can assist with brushing teeth and performing general oral hygiene practices. 

Our patient transport service can help you to attend medical check-ups and appointments so that you never have to delay dental or oral health care checkups or treatment. Early detection is crucial in maintaining a healthy mouth and enjoying good overall wellbeing. 

Contact us today for an obligation-free consultation with our Care Advisors to find out how we can best support you in your oral health journey today.