- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 140 Common geriatric emergencies
- Chapter 141 Management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
- Chapter 142 Oral health and mouth diseases
- Chapter 143 Gastrointestinal disease in the older population
- Chapter 144 Malabsorption
- Chapter 145 Constipation and faecal incontinence
- Chapter 146 Age-associated breathlessness
- Chapter 147 Anaemia
- Chapter 148 Endocrinology of ageing
- Chapter 149 Sexuality in older persons
- Chapter 150 Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Chapter 151 Common age-related eye diseases and visual impairment
- Chapter 152 Hearing impairments and their treatments
- Chapter 153 Dizziness and vertigo
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing
(p. 1097) Oral health and mouth diseases
- Chapter:
- (p. 1097) Oral health and mouth diseases
- Author(s):
Michael I. MacEntee
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0142
The mouth contributes to nutrition, respiration, and communications but it also contains potential pathogens that threaten other parts of the body. It is readily accessible to spot early signs of immune, endocrine, haematological, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and neoplastic disorders. Teeth are destroyed rapidly by the sugar-laden diets and poor oral hygiene that are common occurrences among residents of long-term care facilities. Moreover, the adverse effect of rampant dental caries from medications that disturb salivary flow is too often overlooked by physicians and pharmacists. Oral cancer causes more deaths than each of colorectal, gastric, prostate, and breast cancers, while oral mucositis can be an excruciatingly painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Overall, impairments and disabilities of the mouth and teeth influence physical and cognitive homeostasis and frailty, whereas effective management of oral disorder is an essential component of good geriatric care for successful ageing and quality of life in old age.
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- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 140 Common geriatric emergencies
- Chapter 141 Management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
- Chapter 142 Oral health and mouth diseases
- Chapter 143 Gastrointestinal disease in the older population
- Chapter 144 Malabsorption
- Chapter 145 Constipation and faecal incontinence
- Chapter 146 Age-associated breathlessness
- Chapter 147 Anaemia
- Chapter 148 Endocrinology of ageing
- Chapter 149 Sexuality in older persons
- Chapter 150 Skin diseases more common in older adults
- Chapter 151 Common age-related eye diseases and visual impairment
- Chapter 152 Hearing impairments and their treatments
- Chapter 153 Dizziness and vertigo
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing