Nov 09, 2013 09:24 AM EST By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Despite advancements in dentistry, which will allow older adults to keep their teeth longer, the elderly still have poor oral health, according to a study Reuters reported.

"Although during recent years increasing attention has been given to improving oral health care for frail old people, there is ample evidence showing that the oral health of elderly people, in particular of care home residents, is [still] poor," researchers wrote in the journal European Geriatric Medicine.

In the study, Dr. Gert-Jan Van der Putten of the Flemish-Netherlands Geriatric Oral Research Group in Nijmegen and his colleagues reviewed the consequences of poor oral health and the impact it has on the general of frail, elderly people.

The advances in oral health care and treatments have resulted in a reduced number of toothless individuals and the proportion of adults who retain their natural teeth until late in life has increased substantially, according to the researchers.

The study found that ongoing oral health care is essential not only to dental health but to general health. Researchers found when elderly people ignore their dental hygiene or are unable to keep their mouths clean, health problems can ensue.

When certain medications and reduced saliva production - which is common in older people - are thrown in the equation, it can increase the risk of oral problems. Cavities, gum disease and problems with implanted teeth are the main consequences of poor oral hygiene.

Some of the problems poor oral health can have on health in general include lung conditions and heart disease. Mouth problems have also been tied to a higher risk of diabetes.

Researchers said this is an issue because many elders are not able to clean their mouths and need to rely on help from their caregivers. This is especially problematic in long-term care facilities where the care must be provided by nurses and nurse assistants who may not grasp the importance of an older person's dental health.

If this continues, oral disease and related health issues will become a major problem for elderly people, on par with lack of mobility, thinking and memory problems.

Researchers said, oral health "deserves significant attention of national and international politicians, policymakers, scientists and health care providers."

Dr. Anthony Iacopino, spokesperson for the American Dental Association who was not involved in the study, said this is not a new problem.

"The things that are talked about in this article have been known for years," he told Reuters.

He said that if elderly folks are not able to brush and floss their teeth then someone else needs to take care of their mouth for them. He added that it is important for caregivers and adult children to know they should be brushing and flossing every day.

He told Reuters the American Dental Association and state groups are working on programs to make sure dentists are available in nursing homes. 

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