USC AgeWorks

Oral Health and Aging

Dental health and successful aging

Dental professionals have long believed that one's oral health makes a significant contribution to successful aging. The two most common infections that occur in humans, occur in the mouth. They are caries (i.e., decay) and periodontal disease (i.e., gum disease). No one is immune from these infections, and they occur over the life span. With aging, there is an increased rate of caries and some types of early periodontal involvement.

Dental hygiene may effect the risk of heart disease

Dental professionals combat the adverse effects of many systemic diseases on the structures and tissues of the mouth. Conditions such as diabetes, connective tissue disorders, and leukemia, have a significant impact on oral structures. Recently new evidence has been uncovered implicating periodontal conditions as a contributor to coronary artery disease and pneumonia (Beck et al 1996).

Oral health effects food selection

The condition of the oral cavity can affect the diversity of food selection, an appreciation of flavors, and chewing satisfaction. Many older persons no longer enjoy food, do not eat enough to maintain adequate nutrition and health, and seem disinterested in mealtime.

Oral health is important in social interaction

For some seniors, mealtime is the only time of day when social interaction occurs. People who have difficulty speaking, who lisp, hiss or spit or whose dentures, if they have any, make inappropriate clicking sounds, fall down during talking, yawning and eating may avoid social situations such as taking meals with others due to the embarrassment such situations evoke.

Oral health may effect interpersonal relationships

Verbal communication is not the only role the mouth plays in social interaction. Its role in expressions of intimacy is equally as compelling. Whether it is through the whisperings of sweet nothings, bussing, kissing or other physical intimacies, physical closeness may be avoided by those embarrassed by their own oral conditions. Others may shun partners who seek such familiarity because of their offensive oral odor or appearance.

Oral health can effect appearance

Is appearance important to elders? Certainly! Particularly facial appearance. Having an aesthetic smile and reducing mouth wrinkles (which tooth positioning can do) are frequent priorities of the elderly. Make my teeth whiter and straighter, my lips fuller and my smile more winsome are typical requests that dentists receive from their older patients. Procedures to make teeth whiter and straighter continue to evolve. Tooth whitening has become a popular cosmetic treatment improving the look of one's mouth.

Losing teeth can effect self esteem

Many elderly who have lost or are losing their teeth are devastated. One senior summed up impending tooth loss as being: "The end of the world". Another stated that, "Losing my teeth has given me an inferiority complex which I've never lost". Others have compared tooth loss to the same kind of loss as experienced with a hysterectomy (Fiske et al, 1998). Tooth loss to be a serious life event with a more difficult readjustment than retirement. (Bergendal, 1989) In a recent study by Fiske and colleagues (1998), 25% of people without teeth reported that they had avoided close relationships because of fear of rejection when (not if) their toothlessness was discovered.

Oral disease is common

In the past, high rates of tooth loss were common, and replacement with full dentures was often expected and anticipated by patients and dentists alike. However, the rate of edentulousness (i.e. toothlessness) has been decreasing (see figure below) in the United States since the mid 1960's especially due to advances in restorative dentistry techniques, prevention efforts, and changing attitudes of patients and dentists (Ettinger, 1997). Edentulousness of persons over age 70 averages about 37% (Marcus et. al. 1996). Most older adults have some mild form of gingivitis (i.e. gum inflammation) or periodontitis. Serious periodontal disease affects a small but significant segment of the older adult population. Dental caries (cavities) can be found in over 95% of the older adult population (Ettinger, 1997). Oral cancer is an important dental health conditions which is sometimes unrecognized and untreated. Most oral cancers occur among those who are 65 years and older.

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		Oral Health and Aging Dental health and successful aging Dental hygiene may effect the risk of heart disease Oral health effects food selection Oral health is important in social interaction Oral health may effect interpersonal relationships Oral health can effect appearance Losing teeth can effect self esteem Oral Disease is common Dental health and successful aging Dental professionals have long believed that one's oral health makes a significant contribution to successful aging. The two most common infections that occur in humans, occur in the mouth. They are caries (i.e., decay) and periodontal disease (i.e., gum disease). No one is immune from these infections, and they occur over the life span. With aging, there is an increased rate of caries and some types of early periodontal involvement. Dental hygiene may effect the risk of heart disease Dental professionals combat the adverse effects of many systemic diseases on the structures and tissues of the mouth. Conditions such as diabetes, connective tissue disorders, and leukemia, have a significant impact on oral structures. Recently new evidence has been uncovered implicating periodontal conditions as a contributor to coronary artery disease and pneumonia (Beck et al 1996). Oral health effects food selection The condition of the oral cavity can affect the diversity of food selection, an appreciation of flavors, and chewing satisfaction. Many older persons no longer enjoy food, do not eat enough to maintain adequate nutrition and health, and seem disinterested in mealtime. Oral health is important in social interaction For some seniors, mealtime is the only time of day when social interaction occurs. People who have difficulty speaking, who lisp, hiss or spit or whose dentures, if they have any, make inappropriate clicking sounds, fall down during talking, yawning and eating may avoid social situations such as taking meals with others due to the embarrassment such situations evoke. Oral health may effect interpersonal relationships Verbal communication is not the only role the mouth plays in social interaction. Its role in expressions of intimacy is equally as compelling. Whether it is through the whisperings of sweet nothings, bussing, kissing or other physical intimacies, physical closeness may be avoided by those embarrassed by their own oral conditions. Others may shun partners who seek such familiarity because of their offensive oral odor or appearance. Oral health can effect appearance Is appearance important to elders? Certainly! Particularly facial appearance. Having an aesthetic smile and reducing mouth wrinkles (which tooth positioning can do) are frequent priorities of the elderly. Make my teeth whiter and straighter, my lips fuller and my smile more winsome are typical requests that dentists receive from their older patients. Procedures to make teeth whiter and straighter continue to evolve. Tooth whitening has become a popular cosmetic treatment improving the look of one's mouth. Losing teeth can effect self esteem Many elderly who have lost or are losing their teeth are devastated. One senior summed up impending tooth loss as being: "The end of the world". Another stated that, "Losing my teeth has given me an inferiority complex which I've never lost". Others have compared tooth loss to the same kind of loss as experienced with a hysterectomy (Fiske et al, 1998). Tooth loss to be a serious life event with a more difficult readjustment than retirement. (Bergendal, 1989) In a recent study by Fiske and colleagues (1998), 25% of people without teeth reported that they had avoided close relationships because of fear of rejection when (not if) their toothlessness was discovered. Oral disease is common In the past, high rates of tooth loss were common, and replacement with full dentures was often expected and anticipated by patients and dentists alike. However, the rate of edentulousness (i.e. toothlessness) has been decreasing (see figure below) in the United States since the mid 1960's especially due to advances in restorative dentistry techniques, prevention efforts, and changing attitudes of patients and dentists (Ettinger, 1997). Edentulousness of persons over age 70 averages about 37% (Marcus et. al. 1996). Most older adults have some mild form of gingivitis (i.e. gum inflammation) or periodontitis. Serious periodontal disease affects a small but significant segment of the older adult population. Dental caries (cavities) can be found in over 95% of the older adult population (Ettinger, 1997). Oral cancer is an important dental health conditions which is sometimes unrecognized and untreated. Most oral cancers occur among those who are 65 years and older.

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