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Happy Smiles: A Guide to Oral Health for Seniors

Learn about the crucial connection between oral health and overall well-being for seniors. Discover tips, myths, and resources to maintain a healthy mouth and body. Access affordable dental care options in Georgia. Empower yourself through action and knowledge.

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Happy Smiles: A Guide to Oral Health for Seniors

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  1. Smiles for Miles You Don’t Have to be Down in the Mouth! Pam Cushenan, RDH, MS, FSCDH and Sonya Dunbar, RDH, MSHA

  2. Objectives

  3. Access to Oral Care Law: Why?

  4. What is General Supervision? Access to Oral Care Law (HB 164)

  5. Oral Health-What is the true skinny? • Do the math: 6 billion bacteria, over 700 species live in the mouth • 15-20 bacterial species are ‘bad’ and can be harmful • Saliva buffers acids to help maintain a neutral pH to reduce cavity risk • When we sleep, saliva is reduced; bacterial count doubles every 4.8 hours • Bacteria can travel to other parts of the body; heart, lung, brain, and more • A dirty mouth leads to disease and chronic medical conditions • Heart attack • Stroke • Pneumonia • Diabetic complications • Alzheimer’s disease

  6. Oral Health - Ignorance is NOT Bliss! • Oral Bacteria is introduced at birth, usually from the mother • Gum disease and cavities can occur any time after the first tooth erupts • Bacteria that causes decay is transmissible • Sugar is NOT the only culprit for decay; Carbs convert to sugar in the mouth • Visually inspect the mouth monthly for any changes in tissue texture or appearance; 2-week rule

  7. Oral Health – What is The Magic Word? • PLAN to reduce or prevent Oral Disease and its complications: • Gum Disease • Cavities • Chronic Medical Conditions • ROUTINE daily Care twice a day • EFFECTIVE plaque removal from teeth, gums, removable dentures • VISUAL inspection • ESSENTIAL oral care product selection or EARLY Referral • NIRVANA! Bask in that delicious sense of well being! • Talk about the benefits of healthy Habits

  8. Oral Health - Make My Day! • Electric or Manual Brush? • What’s the difference? • Fluoride Gel or Toothpaste • Interdental Cleaners • Floss, Soft Picks, Water Pik, • Mouth moisturizers • Xylitol products • Re-mineralization gel • Professional oversight

  9. Review Questions • For how many seconds should a mouthrinse be swished before expectorating? 30 seconds • What oral aid(s) works best to clean between teeth? Soft Picks, Floss, Waterpik • Which of the following diseases CAN be transmitted to another person? Dental Decay • If a suspicious area or swelling appears on the lip, inside the cheek, or on the tongue, what is the maximum number of days before going to the doctor or dentist? 14 days

  10. Light at the end of the Mouth Care Tunnel • Brush teeth, gums, tongue , and removable appliances 2X/Day • Clean between teeth 1-2X/Day • Seek professional dental services at least annually • Reduce oral disease to reduce negative consequences on whole body health • Support the increase of dental resources in GA to improve Access to Oral Health!

  11. Dentistry is on the move to save our seniors! • Mobile dental vans • Dental companies visiting the aging • Individual dentist & hygienist providing care • Low income facilities https://giphy.com/explore/teeth

  12. Putting our best wheels forward to save our seniors Totally Cost $150,000

  13. How we travel to provide oral careIt’s not cheap $40,000

  14. Going the extra mile for oral care. • Mobile dental vans • Service bedside • Service in wheelchair on long-term care facilities

  15. Why aging mouths need love too! • Pneumonia accounts for 13 to 48% of all infections in nursing homes and is the leading cause of death from infection in patients aged 65 y and older •  Among 453 denture wearers, 186 (40.8%) who wore their dentures during sleep were at higher risk for pneumonia than those who removed their dentures at night (log rank P = 0.021).

  16. So what does this cost our seniors! • Mobile dental van $175 per nursing home resident. • Nursing home visit $90-$236 per nursing home resident. • The van travels to low income areas when grant money has been received. • Volunteer dentist and dental hygienist travel and provide care to low income communities were seniors are located. • Free & low-cost dental centers

  17. Free & low-cost dental care in Georgia • Albany Area Primary Health Care Inc. • Community Health Care Systems Inc. • Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Dental Clinic Inc. • Diversity HC Inc. • Georgia Association for Primary Health Inc. • Georgia Highlands Medical Services Inc. • Gwinnett County Board of Health • Mckinney Community HC,Inc • Meridian education resource group,inc • Palmetto health council inc. • Senior Smiles, LLC • South central primary care center (More resources available on www.softsmiles.com )

  18. Summary • The Access to Oral Care Law and its Benefits • Empower your health through action • Oral Health as it relates to Whole Body Health • Tap into Georgia’s Dental Service Resources

  19. Low-Cost Dental Service List, Go to: www.softsmiles.comoral Care Guide, go to www.geriatrictoothfairy.org • Pam Cushenan, RDH, MS, FSCDH • Soft Smiles: Specialized Oral-Focused Training and Services • www.softsmiles.com • pam@softsmiles.net • Sonya Dunbar, RDH, MSHA • The Geriatric Tooth Fairy • https://www.geriatrictoothfairy.org/ • geriatrictoothfairy@800mdx.com

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