Elderly individuals should be checked every six months for oral care. However, those who do not have good oral care and have systemic diseases that affect the oral tissues should be seen at shorter intervals of 1-3 months.
- Since the gums of the elderly are not resistant to mechanical forces, toothbrushes with soft bristles are recommended for these patients.
- Fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes are recommended.
- With fluoride applications to the teeth, the formation of root caries or the progression of incipient caries can be prevented.
- As a result of loss of gum tissue. Since the gaps between the teeth will cause food accumulation, these areas should be cleaned with an interdental brush and dental floss.
- For bedridden patients who cannot perform oral care, this procedure is carried out by the patient's relatives and assistant healthcare personnel. >
- Since tooth loss is common in the elderly, the remaining teeth play an important role in the retention of fixed or removable prostheses. Therefore, treatment of decayed teeth is necessary
- Some medications taken continuously may cause dry mouth. Saliva is a natural secretion that protects teeth against decay, so consult your dentist if there is a decrease in saliva secretion.
- Dentures should be cleaned with a denture brush after meals.
Dentures must be removed at night. Your gums also need rest and ventilation. Removed dentures should be cleaned and kept in cold water. Additionally, denture cleaning tablets help to clean dentures from germs. Due to aging, some changes may occur in the oral and surrounding tissues in terms of shape and function. Remember that personal care and regular dentist check-ups are very important to prevent these from deteriorating our oral health. It is not a result. Regular dentist checks will positively affect your quality of life.
In the near future; It is thought that 20% of the world's population will be over the age of 65. With the increase in the elderly population; better education Today, teeth can remain in the mouth for longer periods of time due to nutrition and nutrition.
Deterioration in oral health is not a natural consequence of aging. This situation develops due to inadequate preventive dentistry services, systemic diseases, drug use, wrong and inadequate nutrition, and improper oral care.
In general, intraoral changes thought to be related to aging; Tooth loss, darkening of the color of the teeth, recession of the gums, decrease in the amount of saliva, weakening of the oral tissue and muscles, and decreased sense of taste.
Shape changes are observed in the teeth as a result of wear on the enamel in parallel with aging. This situation can progress from simple superficial abrasions to significant material loss.
A significant portion of the elderly population uses removable prostheses. These prostheses may cause changes that affect both the appearance and integrity of the oral tissues. This situation leads to differences in chewing function and eating habits.
With aging, osteoporosis (Osteoporosis)occurs in all bones, most often in women. In elderly patients who do not use dentures, this causes depression in the face and lips, shrinkage in the mouth, and wrinkles starting from the corners of the lips.
When the bone destruction in the lower jaw reaches advanced levels, the jaw bones become thinner and sharper than a knife, which causes the dentures to become sharp. makes it difficult to use. In order to preserve the natural structure of the jaw bones, functional teeth or tooth roots must be kept in the mouth.
- Saliva fluidity decreases with age. Due to this situation, the risk of caries and gum disease increases due to bacterial plaque accumulation.
- Since dry mouth reduces the resistance of the oral tissues to impacts, wounds in the mouth are common.
- Dry mouth on the tongue. It causes a layer of food residue to accumulate, which causes a decrease in the sense of taste. There is burning, itching and pain in the tongue.
- As the mechanical cleaning and moisturizing effect of saliva decreases, fungal-type infections may occur, especially in the mouth and corners of the lips.
- In addition, as a result of insufficient saliva secretion, the retention of the dentures decreases, therefore the chewing, swallowing and speech functions of the patients are negatively affected. .
- Removable dentures also prevent taste by covering large surfaces inside the mouth. Due to the decrease in taste sensitivity, salt and sugar consumption increases in the elderly, and this causes the development of systemic problems.
- As a result of deformations in the joint, sounds ranging from mild to loud are heard when opening the mouth. In addition, factors such as incorrect fillings and teeth grinding create changes in the chewing surfaces of the teeth, causing the closing relationships of the lower and upper jaw teeth to deteriorate. This situation creates pain and limitation of movements in the jaw joint.
- In addition to physical factors such as chronic diseases, medication use, chewing and swallowing disorders, decreased sense of taste, physical disorders and decreased food intake due to decreased mobility, various psychological and Social factors lead to nutritional disorders.
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