DENTAL AND MOUTH HEALTH IN ELDERLY

Dental and oral health problems that often occur in the elderly include: toothache, toothache/cavities, disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth, dry mouth (xerostomia), gum disease, canker sores, and oral cancer. Teeth have a function for mastication, speech and aesthetics. Many of the teeth in the elderly are damaged and even dislodged, resulting in difficulty in chewing food. The most common cause of tooth loss is the result of poor oral health status, especially dental caries and periodontitis.

Dental caries/tooth pain/cavities, the most common problems found in the elderly, the causes include lack of maintenance and care for dental health. Toothache / toothache in the early stages is characterized by pain to cold or hot temperature stimuli.

Dry mouth / Xerostomia occurs due to decreased salivary glands. Factors that cause dry mouth include the use of anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, poor general body condition and this often occurs in elderly women due to menopause.

Bleeding gums in the elderly group often occurs because the elderly do not brush their teeth regularly, the way to brush their teeth is wrong. Thrush is a disease in the form of ulcers / lumps that can appear on the cheeks, gums, or tongue, this condition occurs due to a lack of vitamin C due to loose dentures. Oral cancer can develop in any part of the oral cavity, is the 8th most common type of cancer worldwide, covering lips, oral cavity, and the incidence rate is more experienced by men.

Prevention of dental and oral disease in the elderly is done by brushing their teeth properly and properly and brushing their teeth twice a day after breakfast and at night before going to bed, using toothpaste containing flour, gargling before brushing their teeth, don’t put too much pressure when brushing your teeth. hard. For that, do prevention and often check your teeth to the dentist and to get other information, you can click this additional info