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HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury

Dental health in older people

Tiaki niho ā pakeke

Having a healthy mouth and teeth contributes to your overall health. Looking after your teeth by brushing twice a day and seeing your dentist regularly is an important part of looking after yourself. This is even more important as you get older.

If you are caring for an older person, do not forget the contribution good dental health can make to their comfort, nutrition, health and wellbeing.

Common dental health issues in older people include:

If you have pain in your mouth, swelling or discomfort from your teeth, it is important to talk to your dentist or general practice team. Do not put it off. If you notice changes to the way your mouth and teeth feel or look, it is also important to seek treatment.

There are subsidies available to help with the cost of seeing a dentist.

Preventing problems with your mouth and teeth

If you have had good dental habits all your life, it is important to keep it up. But it is never too late to develop better habits around dental hygiene.

Teeth cleaning

Brushing and flossing removes plaque and tartar from teeth to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Severe gum disease causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss.

Denture care

It is important to care for your removable partial or full dentures:

Mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers are small sores that develop in your mouth. These are quite common and usually go away on their own. It is important to see your dentist or general practice team if you have ulcers that are very painful or are stopping you having the foods or drinks you usually like. Also seek help if you have ulcers that have lasted more than 2 weeks.

Regular dental check-ups

A yearly dental check-up can help maintain the health of your teeth and deal with problems at an early stage before they become severe. There are many things a dentist can spot during a dental check-up. These include cavities, early signs of gum disease and other oral problems that can affect your general health.

Dental treatment can be expensive. But seeing a dentist for regular check-ups will save you a lot of money and trouble and will help to keep your teeth looking good and working well.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2025.

Sources

See also:

Carer's guide to mouth care

Dental care for adults

Dry mouth

Oral hygiene & saliva management

Subsidised dental care for adults on low incomes

Page reference: 549394

Review key: HILAT-75077