This document discusses aging and oral health issues. It notes that 30% of those over 65 are edentulous and that dental cavities and gum disease are leading causes of tooth loss. It also discusses dry mouth as an aging issue. Tips are provided on maintaining oral health like drinking fluoridated water. The document focuses on denture care including daily cleaning, soaking, and potential need for relining as jaws change with age.

1. DENTAL SECTION
FOR PATIENT

2. Old Is Gold
Dr. Sherif Tehemar

3. Old Is Gold
Age Changes
Maintain Oral Health
Clean Dentures
Test Dentures

4. Old Is Gold
• Lack of teeth: About 30 percent of adults 65
years old and older no longer have any
natural teeth. Having missing teeth can affect
nutrition, because people without teeth often
prefer soft, easily chewed foods. As dentures
are not as efficient in chewing performance
as natural teeth, denture wearers also may
choose soft diets and avoid fresh fruits and
vegetables.

5. Old Is Gold
• Dental cavities: Along with gum disease,
dental cavities are most often the cause of
tooth loss. Older patients continue to
experience dental decay on both the crowns
and roots of their teeth. More than one-third
of adults aged 65 years and over has
untreated dental cavities.

6. Old Is Gold
• Gum disease: Gum disease is the other
leading cause of tooth loss in individuals and
the severity of gum disease increases with
age. Slightly more than 40 percent of
individuals aged 65 and over have gum
disease. At all ages, men are more likely
than women to have more severe disease. At
all ages, people at the lowest socioeconomic
level have the most severe periodontal
disease.

7. Old Is Gold
• Dry mouth: Dry mouth happens when salivary
glands do not work properly. Doctors once thought
that dry mouth was a normal part of aging, but they
now know that this is not true. Older adults, however,
take both prescription and over-the-counter drugs,
and more than 400 commonly used medications can
cause dry mouth. Reduction of salivary flow is not
simply annoying. It can make it difficult to eat,
swallow, taste, and even speak. It also increases the
risk for oral disease because saliva contains
antimicrobial components, as well as minerals that
help rebuild tooth enamel attacked by decay-causing
bacteria.

8. Old Is Gold
• Drink fluoridated water and use fluoride
toothpaste.
• Practice good oral hygiene. Brush and floss
regularly.
• Get professional oral care — even if you
have no natural teeth.
• Avoid tobacco. Smokers have seven times
the risk of developing gum disease than non-
smokers. .
• Get dental care prior to cancer treatment

9. Old Is Gold
• Daily cleaning of your denture is
necessary to prevent build-up of
plaque, food, calculus (tartar), and
stain which can cause:
– problems with appearance or esthetics
– mouth odor
– irritation to the tissues under the denture
– infections in the mouth

10. Old Is Gold
• Rinse the denture under water after
meals to remove loose food debris.
• Brush regularly after each meal,
• Brush with water, soap, or a mildly
abrasive toothpaste, or denture paste.
Scouring powders or other abrasive
cleaners should not be used because
they scratch the denture. Scratches
make the denture more susceptible to
collecting debris, plaque and stain.
• You can use a denture brush or a
regular soft toothbrush to clean the
denture, but use a separate brush for
cleaning any natural teeth you have.

11. Old Is Gold
• The denture can be soaked in a
solvent or a detergent with a chemical
action that removes or loosens light
stains anddeposits. Rinse the denture
with water afterwards. Chemical
immersions can be done daily or
several times a week.
• Ultrasonic cleaning is done during a
dental appointment to remove heavy
stain and calculus (tartar).
• The most effective way to keep your
dentures clean is by daily brushing, in
combination with soaking the
dentures in a chemical solution.

12. Old Is Gold
• With age, the jaw bones slowly
change. Therefore, dentures that
once fit no longer do. You may need
to have your dentures re-adjusted or
you may need to have a new
denture made. If you encounter any
of these problems, see your dental
professional.
– problems chewing food with
dentures
– chronic cheek biting
– difficulty in speech
– red and inflamed tissues
– discomfort with wearing the denture
– cracked corners of your mouth