7ReasonsWhyDentalHealthCareIsVitalforSeniors.docx

7 Reasons Why Dental Health Care Is Vital for Seniors
As time passes, there are things that we tend to give the least importance. Dental health care appears to be one of them. Because oral health has a significant impact on the entire body, it is important that our elderly loved ones have somebody, who will constantly remind them to keep their oral hygiene a priority. This article written with the help of Impressions Dentistry Olympia, WA Dentist.

Dental health problems are common among seniors. From periodontal disease to bad breath, these problems should be remedied right away. Otherwise, they would cause further complications.

But aside from preventing oral problems, there are other reasons to give importance to senior dental health care. These include:

1. Oral health problems might be connected with heart diseases.
Studies suggest that there might be a possible connection between gum problems and heart complications. That is why experts suggest to maintain a good oral hygiene to be safe from strokes and heart attacks.

2. Poor oral health could lead to pneumonia.
Poor dental health has been associated with pneumonia in seniors. Once the bacterial droplets from the mouth reach the lungs, one becomes susceptible to this respiratory problem. Again, one of the best ways to prevent this is to observe proper oral hygiene.

3. Gum diseases may affect the body's ability to use insulin.
When gum diseases become severe, the body might not be able to use insulin properly, hence result in diabetes. Scheduled dental checkups may prevent this from happening.

4. Poor oral health may cause teeth to darken.
As people age, the bone-like tissues that support the tooth enamel become brittle and may change in color. Though this may be affected by the foods and beverage we eat, poor oral health might be another culprit.

5. Dry mouth could be a side effect.
If dental health is not maintained and attended to, a person could experience dry mouth. If that happens, saliva might not be able to prevent infection from entering the mouth, which can pose a bigger problem.



6. Root decays may become a common issue.
When the root of the tooth becomes exposed to acids from beverages and food intakes, it may become prone to decay. The root does not have any enamel protection, so when bacteria find its way, expect gum problems.

7. Poor oral hygiene may create an uneven jawbone.
Over time, teeth are lost and replaced with dentures. But then again, that is not always the case. If not substituted with false teeth, the rest of the teeth may shift and move into the open spaces, hence resulting in an uneven jawbone. Well, truth be told, this could be extremely uncomfortable for our senior loved ones.

All these points are valid reasons to convince your senior loved ones to make dental health care a priority. For that, you must assist them in scheduling dental checkups and come with them whenever there is a need to see a dentist. Also, when it comes to their oral hygiene, do your best to help, especially if they are no longer able to use their hands and fingers properly in brushing and flossing.