Good teeth, better nutrition: The key to a healthier life

By Dibya Prakash

During a quiet dinner with a distant relative, I noticed that Dadi Ji, the family’s beloved matriarch, was barely touching her food. Concerned, I gently asked her if something was wrong. After some urging, she finally admitted that she had been suffering from a toothache and had recently lost three of her teeth. The signs of her struggle were evident—she looked frail and malnourished. Yet, her loving family seemed to believe that these issues were simply a part of ageing, that losing teeth and deteriorating health were inevitable as one grew older.

But this wasn’t true. I knew that with proper oral care, even in old age, one could maintain not only their teeth but also their overall health and nutrition. I took the opportunity to explain this to her family, emphasizing the importance of dental health in ensuring that the elderly receive the nutrition they need. They were genuinely surprised to learn how critical good oral care is, not just for comfort but for preserving vitality and well-being in the later years of life.

Caring for your teeth and gums as you age can help prevent issues like toothaches, cavities, and tooth loss. Also, your teeth play a crucial role in your digestive system, helping you bite, tear, and grind food before swallowing. Poor oral health in older adults can impair their ability to chew and eat a variety of foods, leading to inadequate dietary intake and weight loss. If left unchecked, this reduced nutritional intake can result in deficiencies that contribute to frailty, mortality, and morbidity. Additionally, discomfort from poor oral health can also disrupt sleep and make it difficult to relax.

Good oral health is essential to overall well-being. Without it, a person’s quality of life and ability to eat, speak, and even socialize can be significantly impaired, leading to pain, discomfort, and embarrassment. Oral health encompasses the condition of a person’s teeth and gums, as well as the health of the muscles and bones in the mouth.

Older adults face a higher risk of root caries due to increased gum recession, which exposes the root surfaces, and the greater use of medications that cause xerostomia or dry mouth. About 50% of people over the age of 75 experience root caries affecting at least one of their teeth.

Oral health is closely connected to overall health, with conditions in the mouth often reflecting or contributing to general diseases. The mouth serves as a gateway for various illnesses, with tooth decay and gum disease being linked to many chronic conditions common in older adults, such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory diseases. Additionally, oral cancers are most frequently diagnosed in older age groups.

Therefore, it becomes particularly important to care of your teeth and gums if you have a health condition like diabetes or heart disease, or if you’re taking medications that can lead to oral health issues.

Ways to maintain good oral care

•  Brush and Floss Daily: Brushing and flossing help remove dental plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease if it accumulates. Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day—after breakfast and before bed—and floss between your teeth daily. If flossing is difficult, consider using a water flosser
  
• Monitor Changes in Your Mouth: As you age, the risk of oral cancer also increases. Be vigilant to any change in your mouth and consult a healthcare professional if you notice any of the following symptoms lasting more than two weeks:
• Uncomfortable or sore spots in your mouth, lip, or throat
• Lumps or thick areas in your mouth, lip, or throat
• White or red patches in your mouth
• Difficulty in chewing, swallowing, or moving your jaw or tongue
• Numbness in your tongue or mouth
• Swelling in your jaw
• Ear pain without hearing loss
• Address Dry Mouth: Dry mouth, or insufficient saliva, can make eating, swallowing, and speaking difficult and increase the risk of tooth decay and infection. It may result from medications, health conditions like diabetes, or cancer treatments. Discuss with your doctor or dentist for advice on managing dry mouth.
• Build Healthy Habits:
• Eat a Balanced Diet: Consume healthy foods and limit sugary/ sweet items to prevent tooth decay and promote overall health.
• Avoid Tobacco: Smoking or using tobacco products increases the risk of oral cancer and gum disease. If you use tobacco, seek help to quit.
• Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Limit alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. Even excessive drinking can raise the risk of oral cancer.

In a nutshell, the link between oral health and nutrition is undeniable, particularly as we age. Maintaining good oral hygiene not only prevents dental issues like toothaches and cavities but also supports overall health by ensuring effective chewing and proper nutrient intake. This interconnectedness underscores the importance of addressing oral health with the same care and attention we give to the other aspects of our well-being. By adopting preventive measures and healthy habits, older adults can preserve their dental health, enhance their nutritional status, and improve their quality of life. Thus, effective management of oral health is crucial for preventing deficiencies and related health complications, ultimately contributing to a more vibrant and fulfilling life in the later years.

(The column Metamorph with Dibya appears every Friday.)

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Adapting to changing nutritional needs as we age