Around one fifth of people aged 75 and over never or rarely go to the dentist, but it is very important that they do so at least once a year, as the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth loss can increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease, erysms, and other health problems.
In addition, chronic diseases and medications can worsen oral health, which is why if there is a population group that cannot stop going to the dentist's check-ups, that is the elderly.
However, many elderly people are reluctant to go due to impaired cognitive abilities; they do not understand the need to visit a place where they are likely to suffer pain or fear abandonment. Then there are those who are not mobile enough to get to the dentist's office on their own.
The consequences are (apart from the aforementioned increased risk of developing diseases) mouth infections, constant pain and loss of self-esteem and dignity. To put an end to this problem, make family members or caregivers aware of the importance of taking them to the dentist's check-ups, something that often requires a lot of patience in the sense of convincing them all the time not to get up when they feel pain and follow the instructions of the dentist, but that has its reward in the form of happier and better elderly quality of life.
As well more dentists need to be trained in how to treat elderly patients, which can be intimidating for many of these professionals as they present a large number of medical problems.