Older people's oral health: why nurses and carers should help to maintain it

Enabling older people to look after their teeth helps prevent serious disease and allows them to maintain their dignity

A little more than a generation ago, around one in three adults in the UK did not have any of their natural teeth left. By the time older people visited a dentist, it would be for the provision of denture care and replacement dentures, which were relatively easy to organise.

Thankfully, a lot has changed in the intervening years and everyone now expects to keep most, if not all, of their own teeth throughout their life.

• RELATED: Read Nursing Older People's series on the importance of good oral health as a fundamental care intervention

However, this poses serious problems for older people who, through illness or frailty, may