SENIOR SMILES STAY HEALTHY WITH
PROPER CARE IN LATER YEARS
-May is 'Older Americans Month'-
PARSIPPANY, NJ – A
healthy mouth is vital to a senior's quality
of life. Strong, healthy teeth help ensure
that seniors can enjoy a balanced diet and
avoid the pain of decay and disease well into
their later years. Fortunately, with proper
care, most seniors can have healthy mouths
for their entire lives.
"Seniors experience a unique set of dental
challenges due to their age and health," said
Dr. Scott Navarro, dental director, Delta Dental
Plan of New Jersey.
"Medications and physical ailments can make
it difficult for older adults to maintain their
oral health. However, it's important to make
dental health a high priority, as healthy teeth
and gums are key to an overall healthy lifestyle."
Gum disease is a common problem among seniors,
as it progresses slowly over time and the damage
may only begin to appear as one grows older.
Signs include swollen, tender or bleeding gums
and gums that have pulled away from teeth. Seniors
who experience these symptoms should seek treatment
from their dentist or periodontist.
While cavities may
seem like a kid's problem, the truth is, they
plague seniors as well. Many seniors grew up
without the benefit of fluoride, leaving them
more vulnerable to decay than younger generations.
Additionally, many seniors experience "dry
mouth" due to medications they take; and
this reduced saliva flow allows plaque to build
on teeth, resulting in cavities. Older adults
should be extra vigilant about cleaning teeth,
and should try to keep their mouths moist by
drinking water, avoiding caffeine and possibly
seeking medication to alleviate dry mouth.
Some seniors have trouble taking good care of
their teeth. Physical complications like arthritis
can make brushing and flossing painful propositions.
An electric toothbrush may help alleviate the
problem, by taking some of the work out of brushing.
Smaller electric toothbrush heads may also reach
back teeth more easily for those who find it
difficult to open their mouths wide.
For those seniors who have already lost teeth,
ill-fitting dentures can cause further painful
dental problems. over time, the natural changes
in a person's jawbone can change the way dentures
fit, and loose dentures can irritate gums. Only
a dentist should adjust the fit of dentures,
to avoid costly repair jobs.
Oral cancer screening is another important reason
seniors with or without teeth should have regular
dental checkups. According to the Surgeon General's
Report on Oral Health, oral cancer kills about
8,000 Americans annually. A key to improving
the five-year survival rate is early detection
through regular visits to the dentist. Therefore,
Dr. Navarro advises even seniors without teeth
to see their dentist once a year. Any senior
with a sore or lesion that doesn't heal within
two weeks should see his or her dentist right
away.
"Many seniors don't recognize the importance
of maintaining their dental health," said
Dr. Navarro.
"All older adults should realize that maintaining
a healthy smile is not about "looking good" -
it's key to their health and comfort in later
years.
Delta
Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s
and Connecticut's leading dental benefits
carrier, providing coverage to more than
one million people through contracts with
employers in New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Delta Dental Plan system is a national
network of independently operated, not-for-profit
dental service corporations specializing
in providing dental benefits programs for
employee groups throughout the country. For
more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.
