{"id":399,"date":"2023-12-22T18:17:33","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T18:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dalegreerdds.com\/blog\/?p=399"},"modified":"2024-01-04T18:18:16","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T18:18:16","slug":"why-seniors-need-better-dental-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dalegreerdds.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/22\/why-seniors-need-better-dental-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Smile Care: Why Regular Dental Care for Seniors in Assisted Living Is Critical"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"An<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As people age, oral health<\/a> becomes increasingly important, especially for seniors in assisted living facilities. Regular dental care is crucial to ensure that seniors who largely can\u2019t take care of themselves still have a decent quality of life. However, many of them live with treatable oral conditions and face many hurdles in addressing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to see why seniors have a hard time with their oral health and why taking care of these issues is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Increased Risk of Oral Health Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seniors are much more at risk for oral health issues if they don\u2019t receive adequate dental care. As you grow older, your immune system naturally begins to weaken. Because of this, the spread of harmful bacteria from plaque often goes unchecked. Tooth decay and gum disease are the most common oral conditions seniors face for this reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Some Medications Can Complicate Oral Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many seniors take medications that can affect oral health by causing dry mouth. While this may not sound like a big problem, The Mayo Clinic says that it\u2019s one of the leading causes of increased plaque and gum disease in older people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Immobility Contributes to Poor Dental Care<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As many get older, they begin to develop inflammatory conditions or mobility issues like rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can make it very difficult to brush or floss properly, not to mention getting to a dentist regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Tooth Loss Leads to Bone Loss<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the greatest threats to a senior\u2019s quality of life is tooth loss. As bacteria spreads into the gums and down into the jawbone, it can make teeth loose, or fall out entirely. Not only does this make it more difficult to eat nutritious food, but it can also cause their jawbone to deteriorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this happens, it begins a domino effect that lowers the density of their jawbones and leads to more tooth loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Oral Health is Linked to Some Conditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dental care for seniors is incredibly important, especially because their oral health is directly tied to other conditions. Research shows that multiple conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer\u2019s disease may be affected by oral conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A researcher named Dr. Stephen Dominy found that these disorders can be traced back to bacteria from the mouth that enter the bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, now you can see that oral health has a vast impact on the quality of life for senior folks. It\u2019s important to help the seniors in your life get the care they need when they need it. No one should live with poor oral health, especially not cherished elders. Go see your loved one today and ask how you can help them address their oral health. You\u2019ll love the smile on their face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Dale Greer<\/a> is a highly skilled and professional dentist with a real passion for his craft, and helping the patients he serves. He received his dental doctorate from the Baylor College of Dentistry and has since then continued to expand his skills. He is a lecturer, a contributor to dental journals, and was voted one of the best dentists in Dallas by D Magazine. Call (972) 233-4546 to schedule an appointment at Dale W. Greer, DDS, Inc., or visit the website<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As people age, oral health becomes increasingly important, especially for seniors in assisted living facilities. Regular dental care is crucial to ensure that seniors who largely can\u2019t take care of themselves still have a decent quality of life. However, many of them live with treatable oral conditions and face many hurdles in addressing them. Continue […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Seniors Need Great Dental Care | Dale W. Greer, DDS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Seniors, especially those who live in assisted living facilities, are statistically more likely to receive poor dental care. 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