The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently published a series of papers to remind us of the importance of taking good care of our teeth. They explain that good dental care not only helps maintain a beautiful smile, but helps prevent heart disease and bacterial pneumonia, as well. 

     According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health “Older adults need to be especially concerned about their oral health due to its relationship with systemic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, and the effect of some medications on the oral cavity.  Dental diseases like tooth decay, and oral diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, cause pain, difficulty in chewing, gums to bleed while brushing and bad breath, as well as teeth to loosen.”

     The papers highlight four areas of concern.

Diabetes

     Individuals with diabetes must take extra precautions in caring for their teeth because gingivitis and periodontal disease can unfortunately have worse consequences for them. They say that, “periodontal disease is a long-term infection that hurts the gums and bone holding the teeth. If too much of the gums and bone are lost, teeth become loose and can fall out. Diabetes can affect the mouth in other ways by changing the taste of foods; increasing the time it takes the mouth to heal from cuts or sores; decreasing saliva (dry mouth); and increasing the risk for other infections in the mouth.”

Dentures

     Many older adults have replaced their teeth with dentures, which work very well, but must be specially cared for so they don’t cause problems. “Like natural teeth, dentures must be brushed daily to remove food deposits and plaque. Plaque is bacteria that can cause tooth decay on any remaining teeth, irritation of the gums, as well as bad breath. Brushing the dentures daily also helps to prevent them from becoming permanently stained. It’s best to use a brush designed for cleaning dentures, though a toothbrush with soft bristles may also be used.  Avoid using hard-bristled brushes since they may damage dentures.”

Medication Side Effects

     Many medications can cause dry mouth, which can be a huge problem because “A reduction in the amount and flow of saliva increases the risk for tooth decay(cavities).  Saliva contains anti-microbial components and minerals that may rebuild the tooth.”

Challenges Cleaning Your Teeth

     Lastly, many older individuals have a hard time gripping their toothbrush, and ultimately cannot brush as well as they would like to. The Department of Public Health offers some great solutions to making your toothbrush easier to handle, such as: attaching a velcro strap to the toothbrush that you can wear around your hand; cutting a slit in a tennis ball and attaching it to the end of the brush; attaching a bicycle handle to the end of the brush; or purchasing an electric toothbrush for better handling and cleaning.

     All of these problems can be solved with good dental habits and daily cleaning. The Department of Public Health always recommends:

• Visit your dentist at least every 6 months
• Brush twice a day for 2 minutes with flouride toothpaste
• Floss at least once a day
• Don’t smoke and limit alcohol

     And, if your mouth feels dry:

• Chew sugarless gum
• Drink a lot of water (flouridated water is best)

     And, as always, “check your mouth regularly for any problems or changes. See your dentist if your gums bleed when you brush or floss; or if you notice dry mouth, pain, white spots, and/or a bad taste in your mouth.”