Oral Infections in Older Adults

Dental plaque may contain 1011 bacteria/mg and over 700 microbial species have been identified in the oral cavity. Microorganisms may gain access from the mouth into the circulation through decayed teeth, periodontal pockets and mucosal lesions. Frail edentulous persons are also susceptible to yeast infections if oral hygiene is poor. Oral infections have been suggested to pose detrimental effects to systemic health, in particular, cardiovascular diseases. Functional capacity and muscle strength may also be impaired by chronic mouth infections. These infections also seem to associate with all-cause mortality. Thus, oral infections need to be properly diagnosed, treated and prevented in elderly individuals. An additional problem in the aging population is medication that can often reduce saliva secretion and cause dry mouth. This further predisposes older adults to oral infections. Therefore, polypharmacy should be avoided whenever possible.