Oral Health and Older Adults

It is not unusual to overlook the importance of oral health, but maintaining good oral health is imperative to ensuring good overall health. Working for good dental health is important during all life stages, but it is especially important that it not be overlooked among older adults. For this population group, poor oral health can lead to many other problems. If an older adult has poor oral health, they may have difficulty with speaking, chewing, and swallowing, and they are at greater risk to suffer from dental caries, gum disease, and oral cancers (Vargas, Kamarow, & Yellowitz, 2001). In addition, oral health issues like gum disease can make an elder more prone to other health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, pneumonia, and respiratory disease (Administration on Aging, 2014). For these reasons, it is important to be aware of the unique oral health needs of older adults and know what to look for in order to ensure that they can enjoy good dental health as they age.

Administration on Aging. (2014). Older Adults and Oral Health. Retrieved fromhttp://aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/...lth/index.aspx

Vargas, C.M., Kamarow, E.A., & Yellowitz, J.A. (2001). The Oral Health of Older Americans, Aging Trends: No. 3. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.