Human teeth are covered with a thin, whitish film known as ‘dental plaque’, where bacteria tend to thrive. Also, there is bacteria always present in the mouth.
Regular cleaning of the teeth, through brushing, helps control the amount of bacteria present in the mouth and around the teeth.
However, if oral hygiene is not maintained properly, the bacteria tend to multiply, thus causing a multitude of diseases.
Common dental problems
Dental Caries is a condition that is caused by the interaction of 3 factors - the susceptible tooth surface, the microbial plaque and food items rich in carbohydrates.
The acids present in these carbohydrate rich foods lead to the change in the chemical composition of the tooth enamel. This in turn causes cavities.
Periodontal conditions tend to affect the gums and bones; characterized by red, swollen gums and is often accompanied by bleeding.If not treated at the right time, it can lead to bone loss and generation of foul odour.
This condition is further enhanced in the case of those who suffer from diabetes or those who consume tobacco.
At an advanced stage, this form of dental conditions can also lead to the development of root caries.
Loss of teeth is one of the most common issues faced by the elderly.
This issue also affects the chewing of food, due to which the person is forced to shift to consuming soft, mushy food.
This prevents the person from consuming fruits and vegetables, in the process leading to issues related to nutrition.
Oral canceris the 3rd most prevalent form of cancer in India. It is widely prevalent for various reasons, such as consumption of paan (betel leaf), chewing of gutka/ tobacco, smoking cigarette or beedi, drinking alcohol, poor oral hygiene or nutritional deficiencies.
Prevention
Refrain from habits such as consumption of paan (betel leaf), gutka, cigarettes/beedi, snuff, and hookah and so on.
Using a toothbrush with toothpaste is the best way of cleaning your teeth.
Coarse tooth powder should be avoided as it tends to erode the gums and also leads to increased sensitivity of the teeth.
The correct method of brushing should be inculcated, i.e, up and down strokes, starting from the margins of the gum.
Use of dental floss and inter-proximal brushes is encouraged to clean between each tooth.The tongue should also be cleaned regularly.
How to care for your artificial dentures
Dentures should be removed at night.
They should be washed, cleaned and kept in water overnight.
This process is beneficial as it gives the tissues time to recuperate from the constant wear and tear of the oral mucous membrane, caused by wearing dentures.
The denture should be cleaned with soap in the morning, before being used.
After every meal, it is advisable to remove the dentures and wash them thoroughly.
Denture cleaning powders, that are available in the market, should be used to clean the denture and remove stains.
Choose Fibre over Sugar
The quantity as well as the frequency of sweet intake (especially during meals) should be restricted.
Fibrous food such as green, leafy vegetables should be consumed on a daily basis.
Cheese has good anti-caries properties, and should be consumed (but in moderation).
Use of Fluoride
Fluoride is known to strengthen the tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to acid attack.
It can be used either locally or internally.
For local use, fluoride can be used in the form of fluoridated toothpastes and fluoride mouth washes, both of which are available in the market.
Fluoride usage in old age is particularly important, since the elderly are more vulnerable to caries.
Those elderly;who are on medications to treat chronic illnesses or those who are forced to undergo chemotherapy to fight cancer are at an increased risk of developing multiple caries.
For such people, apart from fluoride enriched toothpaste, the daily usage of 0.2% fluoride mouth wash is a must.
Apart from this, regular oral check-up’s every 6 months is necessary.In addition to the check-up every 6 months, it is important for the elderly to be observant and check for any red/white pigmented patches.
If they observe that these patches persist for more than 2 weeks or so, the doctor should be consulted immediately.
It is important to remember that oral cancer, if detected early, can be cured successfully.