Dental care for the elderly in nursing homes is very important because oral health affects the quality of life and overall health. Dental disease is a common cause of emergency room visits. Medications and chronic illnesses among older adults such as heart disease or diabetes put seniors at a higher risk for dental problems.

Access to senior dental care is a huge problem in many parts of the world. After retirement, people don’t receive dental care benefits. Age-related memory loss, lack of transportation and other problems may lead to missed dentist appointments and bad health for seniors.

Good dental care for seniors may prevent common problems such as gum disease, toothaches, and tooth loss. Healthy teeth help older adults enjoy food and eat better. Read on to learn why seniors need dental care.

Tooth decay

Bacteria cause plaque and this harms the enamel of the tooth and causes cavities. One of the top reasons older adults are at a higher risk of cavities is the problem of dry mouth. Saliva protects the teeth and significantly reduces bacteria, but dry mouth is a common side effect of certain drugs commonly taken by older adults, such as medications for asthma, depression and high blood pressure.

Tooth loss

This is another common problem in older adults. One in five adults over 65 years have lost all their teeth. Tooth loss can affect an individual’s nutrition because seniors with missing teeth may not manage to eat fresh food options such as vegetables and fruits.

Gum disease

2 in 3 seniors 65 years and older have gum disease and without the services of a mobile dental clinic, things can get worse. Severe gum disease is also known as periodontitis and it can lead to bleeding gums, sore gums, tooth loss, and chewing problems among other issues. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not know they have gum disease because it does not cause any symptoms at an early stage until the disease is advanced. Good senior dental care can prevent this issue.

Diabetes

Individuals with poor blood sugar control are at high risk for dental problems such as gum disease and inflammation. This is because too much sugar in saliva promotes the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Gum disease seems to affect blood sugar control in individuals with diabetes.

Pneumonia

Older adults who practice poor dental hygiene, especially people who smoke, are at a higher risk of bacterial pneumonia. This is mainly because, as they breathe, bacteria in the mouth may travel to the lungs. Maintaining proper dental hygiene in older adults who cannot care for themselves may lower the risk of pneumonia.

Oral cancer

Without proper dental care for elderly in nursing homes, older adults are at a higher risk of oral cancer. The risk becomes higher for people who smoke tobacco cigarettes, chew tobacco, and smoke cigars and pipes. High alcohol consumption also plays a role, as does prior exposure to HPV. Visiting a professional dentist on a regular basis may help detect these problems early and prevent future problems. It is therefore important to ensure seniors are getting proper dental care.