van der Putten, G.-J.; de Baat, C. An Overview of Systemic Health Factors Related to Rapid Oral Health Deterioration among Older People. J. Clin. Med.2023, 12, 4306.
van der Putten, G.-J.; de Baat, C. An Overview of Systemic Health Factors Related to Rapid Oral Health Deterioration among Older People. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 4306.
van der Putten, G.-J.; de Baat, C. An Overview of Systemic Health Factors Related to Rapid Oral Health Deterioration among Older People. J. Clin. Med.2023, 12, 4306.
van der Putten, G.-J.; de Baat, C. An Overview of Systemic Health Factors Related to Rapid Oral Health Deterioration among Older People. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 4306.
Abstract
The oral health of older individuals can be negatively impacted by various systemic health factors, leading to rapid oral health deterioration. Older people are at risk of experiencing adverse reactions to medications due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Hyposalivation, a significant side effect of some medications, can be induced by both the type and number of medications used. Frailty, disability, sarcopenia, care dependency, and limited access to professional oral healthcare can also compromise the oral health of older people. To prevent rapid oral health deterioration, a comprehensive approach is required that involves effective communication between oral healthcare providers, other healthcare providers, and informal carers. Regardless of their health status, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of older people. Oral healthcare providers have a responsibility to advocate for the importance of maintaining adequate oral health and to raise awareness of the serious consequences of weakened oral health. By doing so, we can prevent weakened oral health from becoming a geriatric syndrome.
Keywords
oral health care; older people; multimorbidity; polypharmacy; frailty; sarcopenia; disability; care dependency
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
