Prevention of Oral Functional Decline

Improving oral health of older adults for healthy ageing

“…29 Chewing and swallowing are the vital oral functions to maintain adequate nutritional intake in older adults. 7 Tooth loss, hyposalivation and oral cancer are the common dental problems in older adults impacting oral functions. 7 Tooth loss, mainly resulted from advanced dental caries and severe periodontal disease, makes mastication challenging.…”

“… 6 Tooth loss, hyposalivation and oral cancer hinder oral function and negatively affect nutritional intake, social interaction, and quality of life. 7 Oral function decline was associated with general function decline and frailty in older adults and might eventually lead to disability and loss of independence. 8 Therefore, the World Health Organization and the FDI World Dental Federation have recognized the importance of maintaining oral health and function for healthy ageing in older adults.…”

“… 16 Oral diseases in older adults are diagnosed unreasonably at a later stage leading to poor operative outcome and more oral functional decline. 7 Oral function decline has recently been recognized as an important oral health problem. 8 The process for oral function decline is gradual and can be recovered by various intervention before irreversible dysfunction occurs.…”

An Impactful Summer

“…Of these, the most seminal event could be regarded as the publication of the International Dental Journal (IDJ) supplement on “Oral Health for an Ageing Population.” 1 This was a landmark compendium highlighting the varied aspects of the effect of ageing on the maxillofacial complex. Written by an internationally renowned group of erudite authors, the articles 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 describe the burden of oral diseases and access to oral care in an ageing society as well as the decline in oral function with ageing and how these could be mitigated. Furthermore, this unique compilation tackles the thorny question of policy changes required globally to address a glaring health issue 5 that we all will inevitably face within the next few decades.…”

“…We trust you will enjoy perusing the current issue of IDJ and, of course, the freely available aforementioned supplement on healthy ageing, 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 which is a brilliant article collection!…”