As a family caregiver for your elderly loved one, you will need to talk to them about their dental health at some point. For instance, you might need to remind them to go to the dentist regularly. It would also be helpful for you to know more about some of the most common age-related dental issues that your elderly loved one might be faced with. This way, if your loved one complains about their dental health, you might have a better idea of what is going on.

Having Dry Mouth

One of the most common age-related dental issues is dry mouth. This often happens to people as they get older. Many different things could cause it. One of the most common reasons for dry mouth as someone ages is taking certain medications. There are over 400 medications that could cause dry mouth. When someone has chronic dry mouth, they have a higher risk for oral health diseases.

Getting Attrition

Attrition is basically the wear and tear on the teeth. Your elderly loved one has been chewing for their entire life. On top of that, they may grind their teeth from time to time. These things can negatively affect teeth. They can wear the enamel down on the teeth. Chewing and grinding can increase the cavity risk for your elderly loved one.

Having Gum Disease

Your elderly loved one might get gum disease, as well. This happens to a lot of elderly people. In fact, it is one of the main reasons for tooth loss in senior citizens. Gum disease happens due to bacteria and plaque on the gums. If your elderly loved one has dentures that don’t fit them properly, this can also increase their risk of gum disease.

Getting Root Decay

Root decay is another age-related dental issue that your elderly loved one might be faced with. This happens when the tooth roots are exposed and the gums are receding. This can cause numerous other oral health issues, as well.

Conclusion

These are some of the most common age-related dental issues that your elderly loved one might be faced with. The more that you know about these issues, the more you can recognize if your elderly loved one is dealing with them. If you aren’t around often, you can have caregivers talk to your elderly loved one about their dental or oral health. If any issues arise, you can have your elderly loved one go to the dentist.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering a Caregiver in Las Vegas, NV please contact the caring staff at Essential Care today at 702-487-1703.

Sources

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000951.htm

https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)00056-7/fulltext