Dental care in older adults

Worldwide, people are living longer and keeping their teeth for longer (Public Health England (PHE), 2016). At present, there are 11 million people in the UK over the age of 65 years, and this figure is set to increase to 14 million by 2032 (PHE, 2016).These older adults are part of the ‘heavy metal generation’, which includes those with high levels of past (and present) dental disease that was treated with fillings and other complicated dental procedures. The oral health of this current older generation and future ones needs to be safeguarded. Most oral health surveys in this generation of older adults tend to involve those in residential or care home settings, and their findings do not reflect the situation for people who may be living independently or being cared for at home (PHE, 2016).Thus, the available picture of the oral health of this generation may not be an accurate one. Many older adults will have complex care needs and may require support for daily tasks, such as mouth care and tooth brushing (Welsh Government, 2016). This article offers some evidence-based oral health advice to aid community nurses and other caregivers in supporting their patients. It also aims to raise awareness of the links between oral health and systemic health, the comorbidities associated with ageing and their effect on the mouth and the need for increased domiciliary care.