Geriatric Dentistry

Taking care of elderly teeth and gums is just as important as digestive or heart health. Research has shown that there is a connection between gum disease and heart disease. Maintaining good oral hygiene is a powerful weapon against heart attacks, strokes, and other heart disease conditions

Poor oral hygiene-increased bacterial invasion-arises gum problems-loosening or decay of teeth-pain & difficulty in eating-insufficient chewing efficiency-inadequate nutrition- declined health-mental and physical degeneration

WHY MEET A DENTIST

As age increases

• Yellowing or discolouration of teeth-due to gradual removal of first layer of tooth enamel-exposure of second layer dentin-due to higher mechanical friction, improper brushing habit-causing attrition, abrasion-on severe may lead to sensitivity-on further nerve supplying teeth may expose-severe pain
• Unnoticed infection-accumulating bacteria-gums weekening-receding gums are more visible-root exposure initiates-leads to root caries easily-progressing recession-mobility of teeth
• Improper oral maintenance-increased oral bacterial flora-Increased prone to gum disease, more decay of teeth, teeth loss-shows association of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, gastritis
• Insufficient nutrition-prone to bleeding and weekening of gum tissue-paleness-recession
• Reduced functioning and size of Salivary gland-reduced salivary secretion-causing dryness of mouth-bad breath-taste disorders-tongue and gums inflammation-more prone to caries-affected oral health
• Diabetic patients-reduced immunity-increased bacterial load-gum infection-shaky teeth
• Improper oral hygiene-bacterial accumulation-gum infection-bleeding while brushing-bacteria enters blood stream-enhanced cause of endocarditis and other cardiovascular diseases

In association other diseases include

Stroke affected or hypertensive patients-damaged nerve supply-reduced sensation-loss of taste-improper muscle activity-swallowing difficulty-prohibition to oral hygiene-increased oral infection

Gastritis-acids from stomach-enter oral cavity-erodes layers of teeth-exposes pulp-on severity causes pain

Missing tooth-improper chewing-imbalanced digestion-gastric problems-nurtured nutrition-weight loss

As age increases-diminished sense of taste-reduced salivary secretion-incomplete chewing-improper digestion-reduced nutrition

Osteoporosis, or “thinning bones”-in association of other diseases leads to profuse faster bone loss-makes the bones of older adults more fragile-easy to break