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It's said that older adults in nursing homes are wiser compared to the young ones. There's truth in that and it's because the aged have more experience in life. Yet many problems also come with aging. Some of those issues relate to the oral cavity. The gums and teeth aren't immune to the process of becoming older.

Chewing and grinding for a very long time wears out parts of the mouth. What also makes things worse is the chronic use of medications like chewable antacids and antihistamines and poor dental hygiene. Antacids have sugars and antihistamines cause mouth dryness. Due to impairments and disabilities, many have reduced dental care as well. These things contribute to various oral health problems in seniors. It's no mystery why many long-term facility residents say that their teeth aches and gums are swollen or bleeding.

Here are some of the usual troubles that old persons in the nursing home experience. Together with them are some advice to address them right. These remedies are preventive and direct treatment. This also includes coping strategies that may help.

1. Tooth Decay and Cavities

The exposure of the pulp and dentin of the teeth brings lots of problems. There should be enamel covering them so that they would be safe from harmful bacteria. You must know a tooth's nerves, connective tissues, and blood vessels are sensitive. Now, aging damages the teeth in the sense that the normal wear and tear compromise the teeth's enamel. Yet there are ways in avoiding cavity formation that destroys these parts of the mouth.

Good oral hygiene and a healthy diet play a big role in addressing this. By brushing one's teeth at least twice a day, the chances of getting dental caries become reduced a lot. The Mayo Clinic pointed out that the American Dental Association recommends it. Through it, there is the removal of bacteria and debris that may cause cavitation. Other than that, you may also address halitosis or what's called "bad breath".

Dentistry and general medicine consider Flouride trustworthy and a story about it was even written. Although water and specific food items have it, toothpaste has more. It's designed to have other minerals like calcium phosphate. It takes a lot of time for calcium, phosphate, and fluoride to reach the teeth. Toothpaste does something about that problem. Although brushing with it cannot kill harmful bacteria, it does remove them.

Now, because of medical conditions like arthritis and dementia, toothbrushing may be hard. In truth, it might be impossible too. Because of this, caregivers and dental staff may have to come in to assist. They're the ones equipped with the knowledge of the proper intervention. They can clean better and keep the elderly safe at the same time.

Other than brushing the teeth, there must be diet modification too. Reducing sugary food items can help. These bacteria form dental plaque break down these tasty treats and convert them into something acidic. Acid breaks down teeth enamel and thus causes cavities.

If tooth decay persists, dental consultation may be appropriate. Through it, the elderly might undergo fluoride rinsing and have fillings placed.

2. Gum Disease

This is an infection that needs proper attention. It affects the tissues that hold the teeth in place and thus causes various troubles. Because of this, the seniors might experience bleeding gums and loose teeth. It's usually caused by poor oral hygiene habits.

Old persons who have this experience chronic bad breath or a bad case of halitosis, and also have loose and sensitive teeth. The elderly also report experiencing pain upon chewing because of swollen or receding gums. For this, of course, an improvement in mouth cleaning must be done. Because, in its early stages, periodontal disease is very treatable. Yet periodontal probing and taking an x-ray of the oral cavity are essential as well. That's for inspection and diagnosis, and to assess whether there is bone loss or otherwise.

A study conducted in 2012 proved that periodontal diseases are a significant problem for Australian nursing home residents. From studying the 275 residents of 31 nursing homes using the conclusion was derived. It said that only one-third of the residents clean their teeth twice daily or more.

Long-term care caregivers and dental staff might have to undergo training to help seniors with their oral care needs. That is if the elderly can't manage on their own. Now, there are different kinds of oral rinses that are available today. But, between the ones sold, chlorhexidine beats povidone-iodine. That's because chlorhexidine delivers lasting antibacterial effects as compared to povidone-iodine that helps for a while only.

Toothbrushing and flossing can help but they may not be enough for this situation. When there are serious infection and inflammation, oral solutions and antimicrobial therapy might be needed. Likewise, dentures may have to be changed or replaced.

3. Oral Cancer

The elderly are very susceptible to this kind of disease. Even the American Cancer Society stated that the average age of people getting this cancer is 62. Because of past habits and poor oral hygiene, a lot of elderly in nursing homes have oral cancer. Also, chronic alcoholism, cigarette smoking, and neglecting personal hygiene cause this. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research indicates so. Yet other factors may have contributed to such as well.

There are ways to spotting oral cancer in the elderly. Persistent ulcers, gum discolorations, white oral patches or leukoplakia, and mouth pains are among the signs and symptoms. To find out if seniors have any of these, though, there usually must be intervention involved.

Visiting a professional dentist would be beneficial to manage this kind of cancer. One looks into the mouths of elderly people and probes thoroughly while being careful. While at it, other factors are considered, like age, sex, and history. Of course, most of the time, dentists want the best for their clients and suggest less invasive procedures. Those with cancer are sensitive physically, mentally, and emotionally thus they are treated carefully as well.

He or she can likewise apply immediate treatment for pain relief by giving opioids and suggest mass growth removal or reduction via radiation and IV therapy (chemotherapy), respectively.

A lot of nursing home residents shy away or outright refuse from treatment due to a variety of reasons. In long-term care facilities, some older adults get appropriate dental check-ups regularly while others don't. The staff and must educate the elderly folks and their significant others about the nature of their condition and the available therapies to address it. For them to be cooperative, other than making health measures available, the seniors should be made to see that there are means to having better oral health and thus a comfortable life.