Senior Dental Health Week
Seniors can help prevent oral-health problems
Today’s seniors want to stay healthy and look good. Exercise, eating right and having regular physicals help. But seniors also can enhance their overall well-being by taking good care of their teeth and gums.
In cooperation with the Florida Dental Association, Gov. Jeb Bush recently proclaimed Nov. 7-11 Senior Dental Health Week. The FDA sponsors this program to promote good dental health among Florida residents older than 55.
A simple prevention program — brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily — can help seniors avoid many oral-health problems. Regular dental checkups and having your teeth professionally cleaned also are important.
But as we get older, there are subtle changes in the mouth. Normal aging and some medications can lead to a condition called dry mouth, in which the salivary glands do not provide enough saliva to keep the mouth moist.
"Decreased saliva flow in seniors can lead to cervical caries, increased rates of periodontal disease and burning-mouth syndrome," said FDA spokesperson Gerald A. Cioffi, DMD, an Orange Park dentist and oral-medicine expert. " Patients with dry mouth also may have trouble speaking, swallowing and tasting food."
Seniors who take prescription drugs should know about side effects some medications may have on oral health. More than 400 drugs — including calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and heart disease, anti-epilepsy and some amphetamines — can interfere with good dental health. Procardia, Cardizem and Dilantin also may cause side effects.
If you take medications, you should:
- Give your dentist complete, up-to-date medical information, including whether you’ve recently been hospitalized, had surgery or have been ill.
- Give your physician’s name, prescription/non-prescription medications, doses and frequency.
- Advise your dentist of any health or medication changes between visits.
- Ask your dentist about drug side-effects or any oral-health problems and how to control drug-induced oral-health problems.
- Read all medication instructions carefully and take notes.