Today’s post reviews research on the importance of senior dental care, then explains how our caregivers make it easy to implement oral health practices that support successful aging.
Read on to learn more, or call (215) 277-1447 to speak directly with a caregiver coordinator in Montgomery County PA.
Research Review: The Importance Of Dental Care For Seniors In Montgomery County, PA
Nobody wants bad breath, sore gums, or tooth decay, but if that’s not reason enough to take your dental care seriously, consider this:
- Gum disease is associated with greater risk of heart disease. In a 2018 study published by the Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers Batty et al. (2018) found a strong correlation between tooth loss, gum disease, and coronary heart disease.
Although the connection is not yet entirely understood, researchers believe that the bacteria that infect the gums, causing gingivitis and periodontitis, also travel to blood vessels throughout the body, where they wreak havoc on seniors’ health, creating inflammation that can lead to tiny blood clots.
- Poor oral health increases seniors’ risk of dementia. In a landmark study by the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers determined that bacteria that cause gum disease are also linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, especially vascular dementia.
- Oral health is a strong predictor of overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, seniors’ oral health status offers a “window to their overall health.” If your loved one is experiencing any oral health problems, there’s a good chance that other health problems are brewing, too.
While oral health might not be the key to healthy aging, it is clearly an important factor. And if you’re looking for ways to improve your loved ones dental care, we can help!
5 Ways Caregivers Optimize Oral Hygiene For Seniors In Montgomery County, PA
These Are Just A Few Of The Ways We Help Seniors Maintain Healthy Mouths, Minds, And Hearts At Home.
- Caregivers can help implement dental care routines. Most dental professionals recommend brushing two per day and flossing once. If your loved one needs help sticking to their dentist’s recommendations, our caregivers can help, encouraging regular brushing as part of their morning and bedtime routine, and reminding them to floss gently once per day.
- Caregivers can keep your loved ones’ dental supplies well-stocked and up-to-date. Our caregivers will keep your loved one’s cabinet stocked with floss, toothpaste, mouthwash, and whatever style of toothbrush they prefer, so supply shortages and lack of transportation never create barriers to proper oral care.
- Caregivers can help monitor mouth health. As with most health conditions, the sooner problems are detected, the better the odds of recovery. Since we’re already involved in your loved one’s day-to-day care, we’re perfectly positioned to help monitor their mouth health and take action if they report any pain, dry mouth, or gum sensitivity.
- Caregivers simplify visits to the dentist and foster better communication. Should your loved one require professional dental care, our caregivers can help with booking, schedule reminders, and provide transportation to-and-from the clinic. At your request, we can also sit in on their appointment to take notes and record important information for family members.
- Caregivers support mouth health through diet. To support mouth health, seniors need healthy diets, and we make it easy to implement new eating plans, no matter what your goals may be. Our caregivers can take care of the grocery shopping and meal preparation, so your loved one gets fast-food convenience with whole-food health benefits, and we also limit the consumption of sugars and acidic foods that can speed tooth decay.
Book A Free Caregiver Consultation:
To book a free quote and consultation with caregivers, you can call (215) 277-1447 or fill out our online contact form to request a callback at your convenience.
References
Batty, G. D., Jung, K. J., Mok, Y., Lee, S. J., Back, J. H., Lee, S., & Jee, S. H. (2018). Oral health and later coronary heart disease: cohort study of one million people. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 25(6), 598-605.
Beydoun, M. A., Beydoun, H. A., Hossain, S., El-Hajj, Z. W., Weiss, J., & Zonderman, A. B. (2020). Clinical and bacterial markers of periodontitis and their association with incident all-cause and Alzheimer’s disease dementia in a large national survey. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 75(1), 157-172.