Toothbrushing and Toothpastes for ages 65 and up

(5) The populations of individuals over 65 years of age have raised and will continue to rise. Maintaining oral health is important to the overall health in this age group. World Health Organization (WHO) states, “poor oral health and poor general health are interrelated.” For instance, severe periodontal disease has been linked to many systemic diseases such as diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and chronic respiratory disease. Furthermore, edentulous (toothless) is also linked to ischemic stroke and poor mental health, according to WHO, which gives a more important reason to maintain good oral hygiene to achieve an optimal quality of life. Moreover, oral bacteria in the mouth may enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation in the body. Some studies have linked oral health to pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs, in older adults. Keeping oral bacteria to a minimum is recommended (3) (4).

One of the ways to maintain oral health is by brushing. For those who wear dentures or other prostheses, make sure to thoroughly clean the prosthetic each night to prevent bacteria buildups that can cause irritation to the gingiva. Cleaning prosthetic could be achieved by soaking the prosthetic into a cleaning solution or tablet at night. Also, make sure to use a denture brush to remove plaque around the grooves of the denture/ prosthesis. Do not use toothpastes to clean the prosthetic to avoid scratching it (1).

There are different types of toothbrushes that can accommodate those with dexterity problems such as arthritis. For those with arthritic hands (which makes it more difficult to brush) may use toothbrushes with a thicker handle such as a radius toothbrush. A radius toothbrush (http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/) can be found at Whole Foods, Target, Amazon.com, and more. An electric toothbrush is also great for those with dexterity problems or lack of small motor skills such as circular hand movement during brushing. Here is a demo video (2).

References

(1)Harris, Norman, Frankli Garcia-Godoy, and Christine Nielsen Nathe. Primary Preventive Dentistry. New Jersey: Pearson, 2009. Print.

(2)oralb (Poster). (2010). How To Brush Your Teeth with an Oral-B Electric Toothbrush [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkdgyXHEboE

(3)Oral hygiene curbs pneumonia risk in elderly. (2008). Retrieved December 8, 2011, from http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/10/23/us-pneumonia-elderly-idUSTRE49M87A20081023

(4)Peterson, P. E., & Yamamoto, T. (2005). Improving the oral health of older people. Retrieved December 8, 2011, from http://www.who.int/oral_health/publications/CDOE05_vol33/en/index.html

(5)Sagon, C. (2011, September 9). Weekend Checkup: Cure for Mystery Body Odor, Tiny Strokes May Cause Shuffling. Retrieved December 8, 2011, from http://blog.aarp.org/2011/09/09/tiny-undetected-strokes-may-cause-shuffling-walk-of-old-age/