Why Dental Health is Important for Seniors

Getting your children into good dental habits is so important that we’ve dedicated multiple blogs to it before. But for people with elderly parents, it is just as important to ensure that your parents are still receiving an adequate level of health care from the dentist in order to be healthy and happy.

Old age brings with it unique dental challenges and because modern healthcare is of an unprecedented standard, many people are living for longer. This means their teeth have a longer window of time to deteriorate and present specific oral health risks. These may include tooth loss, tooth decay, dry mouth, gum disease and even oral cancers.

There can be some barriers to senior individuals from effectively taking care of their own teeth. These may include limited mobility, impairment to cognitive function, and decreased freedom of movement between locations.

Common dental symptoms for seniors

Old age brings with it unique dental health risks which can impact overall quality of life. If you are concerned about your senior parent’s dental health or want to monitor it so that you have advanced warning when a problem is arising, here are a few signs that may suggest you should head to a Gosford dentist:

• Bleeding or swollen gums.
• Receding gumlines.
• Avoidance of foods that were previously eaten.
• Complaints about pain or sensitivity in teeth.
• Dry mouth or difficulty swallowing.
• Bad breath.
• Loose teeth.

It is a good idea to regularly talk to your parent to ensure they are taking care of their dental health and to encourage them to regularly visit a Central Coast dentist. Some basic measures you can advise or assist your elderly parent to take include:

• Ensuring they are brushing twice a day.
• Using a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen teeth.
• Encouraging flossing.
• Ensuring that sufficient water is consumed.
• Reducing sugary drink and sugary food intake.
• Limiting smoking and alcohol intake.
• Regularly cleaning dentures with an approved cleanser.
• Assisting them to attend regular check-ups at the dental clinic.

Dentures for missing teeth

A common issue for seniors is missing teeth. On top of impacts to self-esteem and socialisation, this is a problem in itself as it makes it harder to eat, which in turn can reduce the amount of nutrition that is being taken in and lead to weight loss.

Dentures are a common solution. Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that a cosmetic dentist Central Coast and/or dentist Central Coast can assist with. Dentures can be removed and consist of both artificial teeth and gums moulded to the shape of the individual’s mouth. They can be made for those who have some missing teeth (partial dentures) or for those who have lost all of their teeth (complete dentures).

If you are a senior patient looking for a dental clinic near me or have an elderly parent who could benefit from quality dental care at a dentist Gosford, the team at Coastal Dental are here to help. As a teeth whitening dentist and an emergency dentist Central Coast, we can also help in other ways. Contact our Dentist Central Coast today on (02) 4322 6617.