Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

The Pinecone | August 2018 • 5 • DENTAL HEALTH The I mpo r t ance o f Please join us August 15th at 1:30 pm in the PAC for our Smart Moves presentation on this topic. Our Rehab Center offers a broad range of therapies & services, including: Cardiopulmonary Rehab • Stroke Rehab • Orthopedic Rehab • Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy • Medical Services • Culinary Services Nursing Services • Wound Care • Psychological Services • Social Work Services Therapeutic Recreation Services • Return-To-Home Services • Outpatient Services If you are in need of any of these services, please call 901-366-1819 As we age there are some things that we tend to let fall by the wayside. Dental health seems to be one of the personal hygiene steps that can be forgotten. Since dental health is connected to whole-body health, it’s important to keep oral health a priority. Senior dental problems can be common and since oral health directly impacts the health of the rest of the body, these issues need to be taken seriously. Taking care of elderly teeth and gums is just as important as digestive or heart health.  Some reasons on why senior dental health is so important are that research has shown a connection between gum disease and heart disease. Maintaining good oral hygiene is a powerful weapon against heart attacks, strokes, and other heart disease conditions. Poor oral health has been linked to pneumonia in older adults. By breathing in bacterial droplets from the mouth to the lungs, seniors are more susceptible to the condition. Good oral hygiene is a good way to combat these bacteria. Gum disease is caused by plaque and food left in our teeth, in addition to the use of tobacco products, unhealthy diets, poor fitting bridges and dentures, and diseases like anemia, cancer and diabetes. Gum disease can instigate tooth loss and can be very serious for overall health as it has been linked to many problems in the body. Age doesn’t always negatively affect oral health on its own. Certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hands and fingers, may make brushing or flossing teeth difficult to impossible to perform. Some people are also genetically predisposed to dental problems. Drugs can also affect oral health, as well as forgetting to brush or suffering from cognitive health disorders. We all know brushing twice a day and flossing every couple days is important for oral health. But there’s more to maintaining dental care than we know. You want to be sure to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash once or twice a day. If you wear full or partial dentures, remember to clean them on a daily basis. Take your dentures out of your mouth for at least four hours every day, and know that it’s best to remove them at night. Drink tap water, since most contains fluoride, it helps prevent tooth decay no matter how old you are. Quit smoking, besides putting you at greater risk for lung and other cancers, smoking increases problems with gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss. Visit the dentist on a regular schedule for a complete dental check-up, cleaning and oral exams. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes dairy and high-fiber foods.