Do Mouth Problems Cause Eating Difficulties for the Elderly?

New research has found that eating problems are common among the elderly, especially in those with a poor appetite and lack of teeth. The problems include swallowing, chewing and general appetite difficulties. These eating problems are linked to oral health. Therefore, this research shows again the importance of good oral health.

New research has looked into eating problems, which is very common among older adults. The study has analyzed eating problems among those aged 75 and older.

Eating problems are inherently linked to oral health. The study found that poor appetite, chewing problems, swallowing and denture-related eating difficulties were very common.

This study shows the importance of good oral health. By having strong oral health, it gives us a decreased chance of having eating problems in the future.

Background

The mouth plays a crucial part in our overall health. For example, disregarding our oral health can result in mouth problems like gum disease and cavities.

Then, the mouth is also important for chewing and swallowing. In turn, these are crucial areas for overall health. Without eating properly, our overall health will worsen.

To have a balanced diet, it is important to be able to eat, chew and swallow as intended. This all points towards the importance of general oral health.

The study

The research outlined above was part of the ongoing Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication study at the University of Eastern Finland. Subsequently, the findings were reported on in the journal Clinical and Experimental Dental Research [1].

The study involved 250 people aged 75 and older who resided in Eastern Finland. Finland is well-known for its high quality of life. For example, the organisation Social Progress Index, which measures quality of life across 160 countries, says Finland is the 2nd best country in the world to live [2]. Therefore, those partaking in this study come from a nation where health and life expectancy are strong.

The participants were interviewed by health professionals including a pharmacist, clinical nutritionist and a dental hygienist [2]. This allowed the authors to get a strong picture of the participants.

The researchers aimed to find out the extent and causes of eating problems. Eating problems were divided into four areas:

• Loss of appetite

• Chewing problems

• Swallowing problems

• Eating problems relating to teeth or dentures

What were the results?

There were some interesting findings. The findings were rather worrying, and shows that oral health is certainly an area which needs to be improved upon.

Nearly 30% of the participants reported having a poor appetite [1]. 20% of the participants had chewing problems. Furthermore, 14% had swallowing difficulties. Finally, almost 20% reported eating problems relating to teeth or dentures [1].

The researchers noted that nearly all of those with issues had a poor nutritional diet – according to the Clinical Nutritionist [1]. Moreover, they also had a decreased food intake compared to those without problems [1].

Those with no teeth had further problems. For instance, this group had a higher chance of chewing issues and general oral health problems [1].

Those with existing oral health problems were also likelier to report problems with chewing and swallowing [1]. Participants with toothache or denture issues were also likelier to report having eating problems [1].

It is also worth mentioning that the researchers found a clear link between taking multiple prescribed medications and oral health-related eating problems [1]. This may be linked to dry mouth – which is a common side effect of many medicines.

What this study shows

This study underlines the importance of oral health. It also shows that we should get into good oral health habits from a young age, as it will help us in the future. After all, we only get one set of teeth in adulthood!

Annina Salmi, one of the authors, discussed the findings [3]. Salmi said “in this study, loss of appetite was the most common finding, suggesting that eating problems are multifaceted” [3].

Looking to the future, Salmi said that “it is important for older people to maintain good oral health because it affects eating” [3].

Thinking points…

1) It is so important to get into good oral health habits during adulthood to aid your mouth’s health in your later years. Therefore, it is crucial to brush your teeth regularly and try to avoid sugary food and drink. Most importantly, it is vital that you attend a dental clinic at least twice a year for a check-up. Any problems can be identified and treated early – resulting in an enhanced chance of treatment success. We recommend booking an appointment now!

2) This study mentions the impact that our diet has on both our oral and overall health. Take a moment to think about your diet – is it nutritious? It may be worth speaking to a dentist about your diet, as they can discuss any actions that may be harming your teeth. A regular check-up would be a good starting point for this. Why not book one now!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary Dental Clinic that provide their patients with advice, a comfortable experience and treatment to improve oral health where needed.

Importantly, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is helpful.

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic/ca.

References

[1] Salmi, A., Komulainen, K., Nihtila, A., Tihonen, M., Nykanen, I., Hartikainen, S., & Suominen, A. L. (2022). Eating problems among old home care clients. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research. (Pre-publication release). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.585.

[2] Social Progress Index. (2021). 2021 Social Progress Index Map: Finland. Available: https://www.socialprogress.org/?tab=2&code=FIN. Last accessed: 4th June 2022.

[3] University of Eastern Finland. (2022). Eating problems are common among older home care clients. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-problems-common-older-home-clients.html. Last accessed: 4th June 2022.