Oral hygiene is a link to maintaining health

Your loved ones may be older, but they still require consistent daily oral hygiene to maintain a healthy body. As the aging process goes on, the gums shrink and the roots of whatever teeth the elder may still have are being more exposed to bacteria and infection far more than in their younger years. Aging also slows down the amount of saliva that moistens the inside of the mouth and cleanses the teeth. As people age, their eyesight and joints can deteriorate, making brushing their teeth a chore that is done reluctantly or not at all. In such cases, an electric toothbrush is a simple solution to get people to resume brushing.
  Why do I bring this up?  Because it will be the family members of long-term care residents that discover poor oral hygiene and dentures that no longer fit. Good mouth care is not always a priority to the staff attending to your family member as compared to bathing and dressing. The failure to maintain a clean mouth may well result in a decrease in appetite. For our dementia residents, that can be devastating. Confused residents cannot tell you why they are refusing to eat; they just stop eating.
  If those same residents have a swallowing problem, poorly fitting dentures will interfere with their ability to chew their food, so larger portions of food are swallowed and choking can occur.  A reservoir of food can also accumulate in the mouth and when combined with the inability to produce saliva, it is common for a senior to develop pneumonia. As humans, we have the distinct pleasure of having one of the most bacteria ridden mouths of any species. A human bite is far more lethal than a dog bite unless the dog is rabid. Bacterial endocarditis -- an infection of the heart -- is frequently caused by bacteria from the oral cavity.
  That should give everyone a clearer understanding of the importance of good oral hygiene for seniors. I would urge all family members with loved ones in long-term care facilities to check on their relatives’ oral hygiene routines, inspect dentures for cleanliness and fit and ask social workers what provisions are being offered for dental care. If there are none, here are the names of the mobile dental units that could provide services: Wisdom Tooth Mobile Dentistry by Care Link, 225 Chapman St., Providence, R.I., 02905, (401) 490-7610; or Still Smiling East Bay Community Action Program, contact Ashley Costa at (401) 847-7821, extension 315, or e-mail awood@ebcap.org.
 
Kathleen Heren is executive director of the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care. You can contact her at (401) 785-3340.