Older Adults Need to Be Especially Careful of Periodontal Disease... Maintaining Oral Hygiene Is Key

Delicate Care Needed Between Teeth and Gums
If Unskilled with Floss, Mouthwash Can Be an Alternative

For the elderly, management of diseases with increasing prevalence and poor prognosis with age, such as periodontal disease, is necessary. In particular, elderly people often hide symptoms due to the burden of dental treatment costs even when periodontal disease occurs, so careful attention is required.

Dong-A Pharmaceutical

First, bleeding gums should be watched carefully. The older the age, the stronger the tendency to mistakenly believe that brushing until the gums bleed is refreshing. However, frequent gum bleeding creates an environment where oral bacteria can easily penetrate blood vessels. It should be noted that bacteria spreading through the bloodstream can be a trigger for serious diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

If bleeding occurs even without brushing strongly, periodontal disease should be suspected. Inflammation can dilate the blood vessels in the gums, causing swelling and bleeding. When gum bleeding occurs, it is advisable to visit a dental clinic immediately for an accurate diagnosis. Scaling treatment, which is covered by health insurance once a year, is essential. In daily life, delicate care should be given to the spaces between teeth and gums and small gaps in the teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Maintaining a clean oral environment is key to managing before and after the onset of periodontal disease. If you are not skilled in using dental floss or interdental brushes, a mouthwash with high ease of use can be an alternative. For example, there is Dong-A Pharmaceutical’s GumGuard. GumGuard Original has been clinically studied in collaboration with Yonsei University Dental Hospital. When 98 patients with gingivitis and mild periodontitis used GumGuard Original three times a day for six weeks, the gum inflammation index decreased by 50.9%, and the frequency of gum bleeding decreased by 56.9%. This is particularly meaningful as it demonstrated symptom suppression effects for those who have already entered the disease stage beyond everyday oral problems.

Using GumGuard Sensitive toothpaste together is also recommended. Patients with periodontal disease are likely to experience tooth hypersensitivity, that is, sensitive teeth. As periodontal disease progresses, the roots of the teeth become exposed and nerves tend to react sensitively. GumGuard Sensitive toothpaste contains potassium nitrate, which gently envelops sensitive teeth.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.