Periodontal Disease in Older Adults

chronic bacterial infection in the mouth

can take place at any age however is prevalent in older grownups
generally starts with gingivitis: red and a little swollen gums triggered by build-up of plaque on the tooth if left without treatment, gingivitis might advance to “periodontitis”

Periodontal Disease in Older Adults

What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

tender, bleeding gums
painful chewing

chronic bad breath
teeth that are delicate to cold/heat
change in fit or convenience of partial dentures

declining gums
without treatment periodontitis may lead to destruction of gums and tissues that support teeth
teeth might become loose and if unattended tooth extraction might be needed

Influence on physical health

gums retreat from the teeth and form pockets that become infected
body immune system fights the bacteria as plaque spreads and expands listed below gum line

bacterial contaminants and immune system response might break down bone and connective tissue
evidence of relationship between cardiovascular disease and bad oral health
oral infections increase glucose levels in blood and make diabetes more difficult to control

Influence on psychosocial well being and lifestyle

sense of bereavement connected with missing teeth
decreased self-confidence
poorer self-image

social seclusion
humiliation

Risk factors

smoking (can reduce opportunities for effective treatment)

hormonal modifications (women)
genes
age

vitamine C deficiency
bad diet
badly fitted partial dentures or bridges

badly lined up teeth
medications that reduce saliva and cause dry mouth increase vulnerability to gum disease
medications that cause irregular overgrowth of gum tissue make proper oral health harder

illnesses consisting of cancer or AIDS and their treatments might negatively impact health of gums
health problems consisting of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease may affect salivary glands and cause dry mouth, which increases production of bacteria

Also read: Mouth Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Diagnosing periodontitis

symptoms may be sign of serious issue
see your dental professional
dental practitioner or hygienist might take medical history to identify underlying conditions or risk factors

dental practitioner or hygienist will analyze gums
may use “probe” to check for and determine pockets (this is usually painless)
may take x-ray to determine if bone loss has actually taken place

might describe periodontist if required

Dealing with periodontitis

deep cleansing (scaling and root planing)
dental expert might recommend medication as part of treatment (medication alone is inadequate treatment)

dentist might recommend surgery including flap surgery, or bone and tissue grafts

Treatment decisions

when thinking about any extensive dental or medical treatment alternatives, you might want to get a second opinion
to discover a dental practitioner or periodontist for a second opinion call your regional dental society for a list of certified dental experts in your area

Preventative procedures

minimize sugar intake
stop cigarette smoking
use tooth paste consisting of fluoride
brush teeth twice a day
floss daily
antimicrobial mouth rinse can help in managing plaque
see dental professional routinely
take a total list of all medications to dental visits and advise dental practitioner of side effects consisting of dry mouth
preserve tidiness of dentures and dental bridges
ensure dentures and bridges fit correctly

Guidance for unique requirements

electric tooth brushes can help individuals with arthritis or mobility constraints who have trouble or pain holding standard toothbrush maintain excellent oral health
for slightly impaired movement, a washcloth or sponge can be wrapped around tooth brush manage and protected with elastic

Older Adults Requiring Assistance with Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene may be very difficult for individuals coping with dementia and they might sometimes require assistance from caretakers. Habits issues or agitation frequently associated with dementia may be symptomatic of undiagnosed oral pain, consisting of cavities, tender gums or sores in the mouth. It is necessary for caretakers to ensure that their care receiver keeps a great oral hygiene regimen. Offering oral care to a private with dementia, nevertheless, may be difficult for both the caretaker and care receiver. Here are some things to bear in mind when offering or assisting with oral care:

The majority of care receivers will fall into among 4 classifications for oral care abilities: independent/no help needed; requirements triggering and reminding; requires some support; requirements complete support
Think about each action needed in brushing teeth or daily care of dentures
Observe the care receiver during their oral health routine to identify what steps in their oral care routine they have the ability to perform independently
Motivate them to carry out as many steps as they are able to do individually and assist them with the rest
This procedure is described as “Task Breakdown” and promotes dignity and independence

Guidance for Caregivers Assisting with and Providing Oral Care

Have all equipment ready
Have care receiver sit in comfortable position
Sit or stand at very same level as care receiver and preserve eye contact
Explain what you are doing prior to each step
Smile, speak in a calm voice and minimize sensory stimulation in environment
If care receiver becomes extremely upset or resistant to oral care, caretaker should not require the job, but rather stop and re-try a few minutes later or ask another care giver to attempt if possible

You might be interested in: Pain Relief for Gum Infection

Strategies

Bridging

Engaging the care receiver’s senses consisting of sight and touch, which assists to clarify your actions
Location tooth brush or dentures in care receiver’s hand
After a brief period of time some care receivers will individually brush teeth/clean dentures at this stage

Distraction

Includes placing familiar item (towel, activity board, small pillow) in care receiver’s hand during oral health routine
This assists to distract care receiver from task being performed
Familiar music may likewise be played during oral care

Chaining

Caretaker begins oral health regimen and after that asks care receiver to assist complete the job

Hand-over hand

Strategy to assist enhance the sensory awareness of the job
Caretaker locations his/her hand over the care receiver’s hand and starts to brush teeth or remove/replace denture