Practical Oral Care in Older Patients
Care does not change so much as its target: protection shifts to the root surface.
Dry mouth: the medication, not the age
Ageing itself does not markedly reduce saliva; the real factor is multiple medication — blood pressure drugs, diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines and many others — whose effects compound when combined. Saliva buffers acid, returns mineral to enamel and clears debris, so all three protections weaken at once. The result is fast-moving decay on exposed root surfaces, which are softer than enamel. High-fluoride toothpaste, frequent water and sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva become central.
Practical points for family carers
- Thickening the brush handle makes gripping much easier
- An electric brush helps when hand movement is limited
- Interdental brushes are easier to handle than floss
- Brush from behind with the person seated, not standing
- Ask your dentist about high-fluoride toothpaste
- Check regularly for colour changes and sores on the gums
The point denture wearers most often miss
Cleaning the denture is remembered; caring for the tissue beneath it usually is not. The denture covers the palate and ridge, isolating them from saliva and the tongue's natural cleaning, and if it is never removed at night the area stays closed and fungal inflammation can develop, often painlessly. Dentures should come out at night and be kept moist, since acrylic that dries can distort, and the palate should be brushed gently. Bone resorbs over the years, so a loosening denture causes sores and needs review.
Getting Here, Booking and Emergencies from Kutukcu
Route, booking and emergency arrangements for patients from Kutukcu.
Getting here from Kutukcu
Kütükçü lies in the Kepez district of Antalya; Kepez is one of the central districts, about 6 kilometres from the clinic. We also see patients from neighbouring areas that share the route from Kutukcu, such as Başköy, Duraliler, Fevzi Çakmak, Güneş. You can ask for the location on WhatsApp when travelling from Kutukcu.
Appointments for Kutukcu
At this distance, splitting treatment into visits is no problem for patients from Kütükçü, and attending reviews is easy too. As with patients from Kepez generally, appointments for families from Kutukcu can be scheduled consecutively.
Emergencies from Kutukcu
Setting out from Kütükçü at night is quick; come without delay in an emergency, and calling as you leave means preparation is done in advance. For patients coming from Dental Clinic in Kutukcu, the clinic is open 24/7 and in an emergency the order is set by severity rather than arrival time. For spreading facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or toothache with fever, go to the nearest emergency department.
Mouth Breathing and Jaw Development
Nose or mouth — how a child breathes is one of the factors that guides facial and jaw development. It is one of the most overlooked connections in dentistry.
Why the tongue matters
When breathing through the nose the tongue rests against the palate, supporting the upper jaw from within and helping it widen. In mouth breathing the tongue drops, that support disappears and the inward pressure from the cheeks is unopposed. The result over time is a narrowed upper jaw and a high palate.
What may be observed
What often accompanies mouth breathing:
- Habitually parted lips, dry and cracked
- A narrow upper jaw, crossbite and crowded teeth
- Gum inflammation around the front teeth, from dryness
- Snoring, restless sleep and daytime tiredness
- Dark circles under the eyes and a lengthened facial appearance
The cause must be found first
Mouth breathing is usually a consequence rather than a habit: adenoids, enlarged tonsils, allergic nasal obstruction or a structural narrowing inside the nose. Orthodontic treatment carried out without addressing that cause may not hold. In suspected cases an ENT assessment therefore comes before orthodontics.
