As we go about our day, there are fragments of our itinerary that have been so ingrained into our daily routines that they are completed without second thought. Oral hygiene is one activity that should be a constant every day, so much so that it becomes a staple in our morning and evening routines.
The longer oral hygiene is treated as an essential part of one’s day, the more habitual it becomes. The assumption, then, would be that oral hygiene would still be paramount to one’s daily routine well into the later season of life.
However, it seems that with age comes a distraction from oral care, despite it being more necessary than ever before. Greater health concerns and a demanding schedule of medications begin to take precedence over oral care.
The mentality that oral care is simply brushing and flossing teeth is hazardous, especially for individuals who rely on the care of others to maintain a healthy lifestyle, like residents who permanently live in nursing homes or other assisted living facilities. But brushing and flossing teeth are more than just mundane tasks, they are vital to the health of the individual. They act as a barrier to prevent cavities and gum disease, a procedure that sustains the quality of natural teeth, and a preventative measure against seemingly unrelated health complications such as pneumonia and heart disease.
Elderly adults who don’t receive proper oral care risk hospitalization for otherwise preventable problems. 72 percent of hospital admissions were strictly a result of severe dental infections that required some form of urgent care, which lends itself to an increasing number of surgeries. Despite the alarming rise of preventable hospital visits, this statistic also reflects poorly on hospitals themselves. Better oral care needs to become a priority, especially in facilities that accommodate seniors.
Less admissions for hospitals means they will receive better reviews. Better reviews means that hospitals will have more access to funds from Medicaid, which gives them more flexibility in ensuring that they can provide better care to their patients.
Poor oral hygiene is disrupting this cycle, making it more difficult for hospitals to maintain a pristine reputation and, therefore, continue to improve the services they offer to their patients in need.
If your loved one currently resides in a nursing home or other long-term living facility and you want to guarantee they are receiving the level of care that will prevent unwarranted and preventable trips to the hospital, contact Onsite Dentists Of Texas!