Demographic Revolution

As society continues to age, one fourth of the world will be 65 years or older, thanks to the influx of baby boomers. Due to this rapid growth in longevity, this will multiply the problem of access to care. Attention towards systemic conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and strokes are being discussed by government agencies and health care professionals. (Overview of oral health, 2017). There is evidence linking oral health to systemic health, therefore, a need for a more collaborative approach towards prevention is critical to achieve overall health for the public (Jin, 2016).

As stated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Each year, more than 30,000 new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx are diagnosed and over 8,000 deaths due to oral cancer occur.” (CDC). Most adults are unaware that they have periodontal disease or gum disease, this occurs because they do not maintain routine checkups with their dentist. When we insert food and other bacteria into our mouths, it affects our teeth and gums. We need routine dental checkups and cleanings throughout our lives. Dental checkups usually involve x-rays, cleanings, and the examination of the mouth.

Other factors that play a role in poor oral care is being disabled and homebound because this also leads to not seeking any oral care. There is Medicaid for individuals 65 and above to get insurance for dental care, however the reimbursements for care are very low and does not cover the entire cost of the treatment. According to the Division of Oral health (2013), “About 25 percent of adults 60 years old and older no longer have any natural teeth.’’ The elderly being toothless indicates a problem with nutrition because being toothless affects mechanical digestion of food. Toothlessness causes the elderly to prefer soft chewable foods and might not prefer to eat essential foods such as fruits, lean meats, poultry, fish, and legumes. Additionally, according to the Division of Oral health (2013), “Oral and pharyngeal cancers, which are diagnosed in some 31,000 Americans each year, result in about 7,400 deaths each year.” The elderly make up the majority of these diagnosed cancers, and these cases are related to smoking and the use of alcohol. The prognosis for this type of cancer is low, with a five-year survival rate for whites being about 56% and African americans being only about 34%. In addition, many older Americans are have polypharmacy therapy, and medication can cause dry mouth. “The reduction of the flow

The Population Oral Health lecture series, delivered face-to-face with supplementary online course notes by the Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Sydney was also used.

INTRODUCTION: Staying healthy as we age can be a real challenge, especially for the physical changes that happen in postmenopausal women. A new report has been released about the health information of older American women, and if those who had ever had a history of gum disease were at a higher risk for getting cancer than those without a history of gum disease.

Health issues may naturally come with age, but who says you have to take them lying down? Believe it or not, something as simple as regular dental visits can make a big difference in quality of life as you get older, even if you’re sporting dentures or have managed to keep your smile free of cavities. Stay one step ahead of these six age-related oral problems by making routine checkups a top priority.

Summary- There is visible improvement in all three areas in age group 20-45. There is noticeable connection between regular brushing and longer lasting teeth and overall better health. From the position of attendance- majority of the adults attended regularly at least every 2 years and even it’s still difficult to find NHS dentist vast majority of the adults manage book and attend appointment. There is higher rate of the carries in the families from manual occupations

Integration of oral health care into advanced geriatric care: Geriatric patients are generally classified into three groups based on functional living ability; functionally independent, frail, and functionally dependent. Special approaches and treatment goals for oral health are different for each group. Regardless of functional status, the elimination of acute dental infection and pain should be achieved for all elderly patients. Oral disease prevention is still the central focus for the elderly population as for other patient populations. Special oral hygiene measures, however, are required for the elderly. For example, toothbrush or dental floss devices with larger handles may be provided to patients with limited manual dexterity resulting

Quandt, S. A. (2009). Disparities in Oral Health Status Between Older Adults in a Multiethnic Rural Community: The Rural Nutrition and Oral Health Study. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 57(8), 1369-1375.

A cross-sectional oral health survey was designed to assess both functional and psychosocial effects of dental disease on the elderly population of Buda, Texas (US). Printed surveys that consisted of 50 open-ended questions on dental disease history and dental hygiene were mailed to the selected members of a target group. However, the response rate was not satisfactory, as a large percentage of the selected study participants either did not return the survey, or failed to answer all the questions posed. The researchers opted for two strategies: prompt those who did not respond with a second letter that guaranteed complete confidentiality and broaden the pool of selected participants. Depending on the final response rate and researchers’ statistical skills, the bias in the final publication will be more pronounced if:

Limited Support Insurance of oral wellbeing is a vital variable of healthy aging in many ways, influencing the ability to communicate and personal satisfaction with presence, for instance (Sahyoun, 2004). The status of an individual’s nutritional health is determined by dietary intakes and lifestyles choices (Sahyoun, 2004). Oral health is important to reach good nutrition goals (Sahyoun, 2004). Oral health problems constrains a person’s food choices (which affect’s social association, a vital part of overall health) (Sahyoun, 2004). There is limited experimental evidence discovered to support the association concerning oral health, nutritional decisions, and the ranking of health (as earlier choices affects them later) (Sahyoun, 2004, 18). Food is not the only thing that harms an elder’s teeth. Dental wellbeing is often influenced by various professionally prescribed medications, taking note of that reactions would harm their teeth later on (Sahyoun, 2004).

Everyone knows smoking is bad for their health, so it should be no surprise that cigarettes and chewing tobacco are also harmful to ones oral health, but a lot of people don’t know. When patients are asked if they are aware of the greatest reason for adult tooth loss, they often incorrectly reply, "Old age." Chronic tobacco use equals periodontal disease, tooth loss and other possible oral health impacts which include things like, stained teeth and tongue, dulled sense of taste and smell, and oral cancer. Motivating patients to actually consider or give up tobacco habits is very challenging not the least of which is the fact that many patients don't think of tobacco use in terms of tooth loss. Quitting is the only way to decrease the risk of

Oral hygiene is one of the most important hygiene functions one must maintain to prevent health problems. Most people have knowledge of the main reasons we should brush our teeth; so we don’t have bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay.

for most of human history, the elderly (those over 65) have never exceeded 3% or 4% of a country’s population. In today’s developed world, they comprise roughly 15% of the population. By 2050, this could reach 25% on average (Chand & Tung, 2014).

According to the table of “Matrix of risk factors and chronic diseases in WHO Global Infobase”, not only is bad oral health caused by poor dental care by itself, but also by tobacco use, alcohol use, and poor nutrition. Also, the leading causes of diabetes and cancer come from the same issues as well as physical inactivity, obesity, and raised blood pressure. Imagine living without a toothbrush, a dentist and living with alcoholism, food from the garbage, no parks or outdoor areas and your home in an unsafe community. Yes, this is extreme, but it is possible. As one ages, the diseases become more prevalent and likely to become a major issue. Teeth will rot, fall out, and people