Tiaki niho ā pakeke Dental health for older people

Having a healthy mouth and teeth contributes to your overall health. As you get older, it is especially important to continue to:

• look after your teeth by brushing twice a day
• see your dentist regularly.

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:

• problems with gums and mouth ulcers
• tooth loss
• older fillings needing replacement
• cavities around the roots of teeth
• medication side effects such as dry mouth
• problems with dentures.

It is important to talk to your dentist or healthcare provider as soon as possible if you have:

• pain or swelling in your mouth
• discomfort from your teeth
• changes to the way your mouth and teeth feel or look.

You may be eligible for financial help for your dental care from Work and Income. 

Dental treatment — Work and Income (external link)

Mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers are small sores that develop in your mouth. They are quite common and usually go away on their own.

It is important to see your dentist or healthcare provider if your ulcers:

• are very painful
• are stopping you having the food or drinks you usually like
• have lasted more than 2 weeks.

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.

Clean your teeth

Brushing and flossing removes plaque and tartar from your teeth, which will help prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Severe gum disease is a leading cause of adult tooth loss.

Gum disease (internal link)

To keep your teeth and gums healthy:

• brush your teeth every day — morning and night
• brush with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
• after brushing your teeth, swish and spit but do not rinse
• clean between your teeth at least once a day with floss or inter-dental brushes
• drink water or milk between meals
• avoid sugary foods and drinks between meals — give your mouth a break
• do not smoke.

Arthritis and other mobility issues may make it difficult to brush and floss. An electric toothbrush may make this easier. If you are having trouble, talk to your dentist or healthcare provider. If you are receiving care at home or in an aged residential care facility, you may be able to ask your carer to help.

Clean your dentures

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

• remove and rinse dentures after eating
• clean your mouth after removing your dentures using a soft toothbrush
• brush your dentures at least once a day
• do not brush dentures with toothpaste — use a specially formulated denture paste or plain mild household soap and rinse well
• soak your dentures in water overnight to help keep their shape.

Regular dental check-ups

See your dentist once a year. This can help maintain the health of your teeth and deal with problems early before they become serious.

During your check up, your dentist will look for:

• cavities
• early signs of gum disease
• 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
• help to keep your teeth looking good and working well.

Dental care services (internal link)

Oral health guide for caregivers of older people developed by the New Zealand Dental Association and the Ministry of Health.

Healthy mouth, healthy ageing guide (external link)