Quality of life and oral health Poor oral health affects an older person's ability to chew and eat a variety of foods. This causes poor dietary intake and weight loss. Discomfort caused by poor oral health disrupts sleep and relaxation capacity. Good dental care for older people can help prevent common problems, such as toothaches, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Healthy teeth also help older adults enjoy food and eat better. Learn why it's important to make the dental health of older people a priority and how to help your older loved one improve their oral health. Taking care of your teeth and gums as you age can prevent problems such as toothache, tooth decay, and tooth loss. A healthy mouth also makes it easier to eat well and enjoy food.
As previously reported, there is abundant scientific evidence supporting the participation of oral health in general health. Despite the poor oral health conditions of older people mentioned above, this is often not accompanied by their self-perception of oral health. CVRS is used in health services research to examine trends in oral health and estimate the needs of the population, and it also has important implications for dental research and the clinical practice of dentistry. Therefore, the OhrQol focuses on how oral health affects patients' quality of life, taking into account their self-perception of oral health.
It's especially important to take care of your teeth and gums if you have a health condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, or if you're taking medications that can cause oral health problems. Data on oral health among older people show a worrying situation, with a high prevalence of caries and moderate periodontal disease, frequent edentulism and numerous cases of dry mouth and oral cancer. We also searched the websites of government health departments, international health organizations, consensus reports, and general position statements from scientific societies. Diabetes and cancer are two health conditions that can contribute to poor oral health in older people.
The arguments in favor of measuring “oral health” in terms of quality of life are strong, since a positive clinical evaluation of the mouth does not guarantee good oral health. The relationship between oral health status and general health can be explored from different perspectives, mainly from a subjective point of view. The objective of this non-systematic review was to present published data on the oral health status of older people and its main repercussions, including its impact on general health and nutrition. Competent public health authorities in different countries have set several oral health objectives.
This inadequate consumption of nutrient-rich foods, combined with lower health literacy and limited access to oral health care, may place low-income populations at greater risk of tooth decay and other oral diseases.
