While taking care of your teeth and gums is a must at any age, elderly people need special dental care. This is because seniors have a higher risk for many dental issues that can have complicated effects on their overall health and quality of life.

This is why it’s highly important that elderly dental health also be given enough attention.

Importance of Good Elderly Dental Health

The importance of good dental health in the elderly can’t be stressed enough. This is because poor oral health in seniors can increase their risk for serious conditions such as diabetes and a variety of heart diseases.

• Managing and even reversing gum disease. A lifestyle of oral neglect can cause plaque, tartar, and even infection to develop. This means gingivitis or gum disease can cause you to lose teeth later in life. With the right treatment and care from your trusted dentist, you can actually reverse gingivitis—and maybe even save your teeth.
• Those with Type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for having gum disease, thrush, and dry mouth. Dry mouth, which can also be caused by medication, can cause tooth decay, infection, and eventual tooth loss.

• Preventing heart disease. Maintaining good oral health throughout your life is powerful in fighting heart attack, stroke, and many other heart conditions. Aside from cholesterol levels, the presence of gum disease and cavities can also predict if you have heart disease.
• Increased risk for pneumonia. Breathing in the bacterial droplets from your mouth to your lungs can cause you to be more likely to develop pneumonia and lung infection.

The conditions of the elderly, such as aching joints due to arthritis or being too immobile to go to the dentist regularly, can make maintaining good elderly dental health difficult to fulfil. However, it’s not too late. Our dentists at Caloundra can take care of your dental needs and prepare you for whatever treatment you may need.