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Friday, March 6, 2015

Seniors and Oral Health

At a young age, we're taught that brushing and flossing our teeth everyday is very important. We also learn that visiting the dentist regularly keeps our smiles bright and healthy. However, as we age, these simple oral care habits can become very difficult.

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In seniors over the age of 65, the development of arthritis is common and a significant hindrance for brushing and flossing regularly. For a person with arthritis, these simple daily habits can be very painful, if not impossible at times. Even still, seniors with memory related diseases often completely forget about their dental care all together which can lead to a number of health conditions.

As we grow older, keeping ourselves healthy becomes increasingly important, and as our oral health is closely tied to our whole body health; keeping up on our daily oral hygiene practices needs to be a priority. Aging with poor dental care can have a much larger impact on your overall health than you might expect. Bad dental health can you put you at an increased risk for
diabetes and heart disease.

According to seniorsoralhealth.org nearly a quarter of all seniors over the age of 65 have severe gum disease which is often caused by chronic dry mouth. Chronic dry mouth, which can be caused by medications and normal aging, directly contributes to gum diseases and significant tooth decay.

While many people know that regular dental exams are important, few understand that as we age how staying on top of our oral health is paramount to maintaining our overall health. So don't forget to brush and floss your teeth everyday, and make sure to visit your dentist regularly.