Putting Dental Health Higher On Our Lists
When caring for someone we tend to think about physical health first and foremost: how well someone is eating, getting their medications right, watching for major and minor symptoms of disease, etc. But dental health isn’t always foremost in our minds. This article from the American Geriatric Society points out the importance of maintaining dental hygene and of being observant about oral health:
- Malignancies - it’s important to pay attention to changes in the oral tissue of seniors, especially among smokers. Growths, patches or lesions in the mouth could be signs of more serious problems and should be brought to the attention of a health care provider right away.
- Dentures - check for broken or missing pieces, or dentures that no longer fit. Often times, older adults lose body fat, which changes the way dentures fit and can cause mouth pain and discomfort.
- Dry mouth - as we age, saliva production lessens and causes dryness and discomfort of the mouth. Dry mouth is also a common side effect of many medications.
- Bad breath - is often an embarrassing topic for many people to address but it can serve as an indicator for more serious health problems.
