Affects of inadequate nutrition in case of elderly people

Eating well is important at any age. Whether it’s because of physical limitations or financial hardship, many elderly persons don’t eat as well as they should. Hence food they do eat must be as nutritious as possible. But health issues and physical limitations sometimes make it difficult for the elderly, to get the nutrients they need for a balanced diet.

Symptoms of malnutrition (weight loss, disorientation, lightheadedness, lethargy and loss of apetite) are sometimes mistaken for illness or disease. Although there are no authentic data to substantiate the extent of malnutrition among the elderly in India, it is said that a large majority of the elderly consume fewer than 1000 calories a day, which is insufficient to maintain adequate nutrition. There are many reasons why an older person may skip a meal, from forgetfulness to financial burden, depression to dental problems, and loneliness to frailty. Older persons, handicapped by their dentition and a consequent reduction in masticatory efficiency, suffer impaired intakes of fruit and vegetables and some key nutrients. This affects their oral health and as a result a fall in their general health.

The dental health problems commonly associated with the elderly people are:

· Gum disease
· Dental Decay
· Inflammation of the mucous membrane (Stomatitis)
· Inflammation of the tongue (Glossitis)
· Tooth wear and excessive staining
· Dry mouth
· Loss or alteration in taste
· Missing teeth, ill fitting dentures or dentures getting repeatedly loose etc
· Facial pain
· Tooth loss and limited oral functioning
· Poor oral hygiene

As a person grows in age, the teeth show signs of wear, gums recede, soft moist oral mucous membrane (i.e. tissues lining the oral cavity), sometimes looks more rough, dry and at times fibrous. There are several changes that may occur as the person grows old. These may relate to clinical changes like wearing of teeth, root decay, gum diseases, discolouration of teeth etc. Apart from clinical changes, there may be cellular changes that may have their impact on the teeth. Old age may also bring about changes in drug metabolism they may have its oral side effects such as dry mouth, changes in taste, oral ulcerations, gingival bleeding, etc. Oral tissues also undergo considerable change as a result of advancing age. Reactions of common diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular and liver diseases, gastrointestinal diseases etc to name only a few, have their effect in oral cavity.