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Oral Health and Older Adults
Studies show that almost one of four people over age 65 have lost all of their teeth. Statistics like this one, along with others, reveal that older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease and need to do more to maintain good oral health than other patients. No matter your age, maintaining exceptional oral care is important.
Taking care of your mouth isn’t just so you’ll have a great smile. While that is important, your mouth is responsible for other things as well. Consider these facts from Perio.org.
- Every tooth in your mouth plays an important role in speaking, chewing and in maintaining proper alignment of other teeth.
- A major cause of failure in joint replacements is infection, which can travel to the site of the replacement from the mouth in people with periodontal disease.
- People with dentures or loose and missing teeth often have restricted diets since biting into fresh fruits and vegetables is often not only difficult, but also painful. This likely means they don’t get proper nutrition.
- Most men and women age 65 and older report that a smile is very important to a person’s appearance. And, maybe most importantly, recent research has advanced the idea that periodontal disease is linked to a number of major health concerns such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and diabetes.
The good news is that periodontal disease is avoidable. Research suggests that higher rates of periodontal disease may be related to risk factors aside from age. Factors like overall health, diminished immune system, medications, depression, worsening memory, and change in financial status can increase your risk. To learn more about how to prevent periodontal disease visit Perio.org.
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