All pdf BH Issue 33 Eng

AGING & ORAL HEALTH
A healthy mouth leads to
a healthy life
Maintaining excellent oral health supports your overall
health and life quality much more than you might expect.
Thus, geriatric dentistry is a key component of
Bumrungrad’s multidisciplinary team that provides holistic
health care to elders. Our geriatric dental professionals
provide care for seniors with a variety of oral health
programs, whether simply for maintenance or for more
serious conditions.
talks with Dr. Matana Kettratad D.D.S., who
is specially trained in geriatric dentistry. Her practice focuses
on age-related oral diseases and
preventative oral health care.
Dr. Matana Kettratad
Geriatric dentist
Older mouths require
concerted care
Common oral health problems
in seniors include dental caries
(tooth decay), dental attrition,
gingival recession; problems with
implants and false teeth (looseness
or friction), xerostomia, angular
cheilitis, and periodontitis (also
known as pyorrhea), which
typically accompanies diabetes.
Elders with health problems need
special mouth care, especially
those with multiple chronic diseases who take multiple
medications; and cancer patients undergoing radiation
therapy around the head or throat, which affects the salivary
glands, which increases the risk for caries and mouth ulcers.
“If elders don’t address these problems, they may have
difficulty eating and may have a decreased appetite. This
can eventually lead to malnutrition,” Dr. Matana says.
“Patients at risk for respiratory infections also need to avoid
oral infections because germs in the mouth can infect
the lungs.”
Simple ways to a healthy smile
People’s mouths change as they age, which means they
must adapt to changes in their oral healthcare. For example,
older people’s sense of taste changes. Aging mouths produce
a thinner oral soft tissue. When accompanied with dry
mouth as a side effect of multiple medications, some elders
may easily develop ulcers, a burning sensation, or become
sensitive to spicy foods. These signs indicate that their
current method of oral care is no longer sufficient.
Dr. Matana suggests that seniors:
Use fluoride toothpaste and have it in contact with teeth
for at least two minutes during brushing.
Floss or use interproximal brushes daily. Dental floss
and brush size depend on the size of gaps between teeth.
Those with xerostomia or insufficient saliva can stimulate
saliva glands by eating foods with fiber and frequently
sipping water. The doctor may suggest using artificial
saliva for more severe cases.
Eat foods high in fiber to stimulate chewing, which helps
to scrape and clean the teeth.
Avoid sugary foods, which can cause dental caries.
See a dentist regularly.
“Oral health and overall health are inextricably related,”
Dr. Matana emphasizes. “But while elderly people need
special attention, younger people should also take good
care of their teeth and gums to minimize problems as they
age. Good oral health affects the quality of life, regardless
of how old you are!”
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