Direct Relation of Dental Care to Good Health in Retirees

Growing old gracefully is harder than it seems when you practice bad oral hygiene. It's easy to forget that your teeth and other things inside your mouth are also going under an aging process. Unlike sharks or other animals who continually get teeth to replace any that fall out, us human adults only have one set of teeth to see us through our adult years once the baby set falls out in youth. That's a long time to keep your dental health in good shape.

Therefore, it is no wonder that when you have poor oral hygiene, you can experience a whole host of health problems besides the ugly smile and stinky breath. When you do not take good care of your teeth, you are at risk of different sicknesses like periodontal or gum disease, gingivitis, infections, stroke and heart disease and even bone loss. Only through regular dental check-ups and routine maintenance like teeth cleaning will you be able to keep a healthy body and mouth.

Here are some things to look out for as they are cause for concern not only in oral health but also health issues regarding the whole body:

1. Gum disease - When your gums bleed, this could be a sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease. If you receive an infection as a result of bleeding gums and poor hygiene, you will likely loose teeth.
2. Tooth decay or cavities - Flossing is important as well as good teeth brushing in order to prevent tooth decay or cavities. This is another way to loose teeth if left unchecked.
3. False teeth - Sometimes, older adults need dentures. However, as you age, your bone structure will change slightly and this includes your mouth. As a result, you will need to have your dentures adjusted or even replaced periodically. Just be sure to take care of your dentures just as you would your teeth to make them last longer.
4. Dry mouth - Certain medications or illnesses can cause dry mouth in older adults. The lack of saliva hinders speech, eating and even swallowing. Cancer drugs are often a culprit. Without enough saliva, the environment in your mouth cannot stay balanced. Therefore, you could experience gum disease, cavities or more.
5. Oral cancer - This type of disease can be successfully treated if caught early. One of the ways to help prevent this disease from taking hold of your mouth is through regular trips to the dentist for teeth cleaning, denture inspection and more.
6. Implants - Sometimes, dentists rely on dental implants to replace teeth that have fallen out or they are used to hold bridges or other denture pieces together. Regular dental appointments are needed to ensure that these implants are still in good shape and that the bone in your jaw is not deteriorating because of them.

The bottom line is that many dental problems can be resolved with regular dental check-ups. Dental cleanings, brushing teeth regularly and flossing are all part of maintaining a healthy mouth into retirement. In addition, no tobacco products should be used and alcohol should only be consumed in moderation. Finally, a healthy diet is considered a major line of defense in good oral health.

Depression signs and Symptoms in the Elderly

Depression is an illness that can have particularly devastating effects on those who are 65 or older (elderly). They are at an increased risk for death by suicide when depressed and can widely go under diagnosed for depression because they are elderly.

Depression can occur in the elderly for no obvious reason or it can be a response to a life change such as a loss of a spouse or adult child, loss of a job or retirement, loss of a relationship such as the death of a lifelong friend or companion. Depression can be the response to chronic disease or chronic pain or it can actually be a symptom of a disease or condition.

There are many signs and symptoms to look for in the elderly individual that may indicate the possibility of depression. These signs and symptoms should not be ignored or taken for granted (such as the thinking that it is normal for elderly to be depressed).

Not all individuals exhibit the exact same signs and symptoms of depression so no two elderly individuals will show the same ones either.

Some of the more common signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly are:

* A mood that is consistently sad, or discouraged (blues)

* Expresses a feeling of being empty or useless

* Persistent expressions of pessimism about the past, present or future

* Difficult decision making

* Moving slow or having a lack of energy

* Thoughts or expressions of suicide

* Extreme irritability especially if it is out of character

* Restlessness (wringing of hands), moving aimlessly around the room, pacing

* Loss of appetite, not eating meals

In order to evaluate whether or not an elderly person is depressed, careful observation must be done because in most cases the elderly will not admit to feeling sad or depressed. The signs (physical) of loose clothing that may indicate a loss of appetite or daytime sleepiness that may indicate that the individual is not sleeping well at night. Other signs may be an unusually messy house or unkempt physical state of being (dirty clothing or unwashed hair).

The signs of depression may indicate the need for assistance in planning meals, preparing meals or shopping for meal ingredients. The signs can also lead to the conclusion that the individual lacks a support systems and could benefit from community services that are set up to aid the elderly in the area such as food pantry, meals-on-wheels, home health aids, or a visiting nurse to take blood pressure checks and other necessary medical assessments. Chronic medical conditions including chronic pain management can help to prevent or decrease the severity of depression in the elderly.

The good news is that when the signs or symptoms of depression are recognized there are steps that can be taken to start or to grow a support system that will connect the elderly individual to social contacts that will aid them in coping with life stresses and situations. The support system will allow them to make good lifestyle decisions that will lessen depression or help to prevent future depression episodes.