The Need for Oral Health Care Protocol for Aging Adults in a Hospital Setting
Timothy Youmans
Loma Linda University
Introduction Oral health is an essential factor in our overall health and wellbeing. From newborns to aging adults, brushing is something we learn that is important and a habit that we continue throughout our entire lives. A visit to the hospital, either short or long, can have a devastating effect on a client’s oral health. When a client is being cared for, the main focus is usually to heal and rehabilitate the client for the problem that they were admitted for. When we are presented with a client who is recovering from open-heart surgery, the main concern for helping that client on their road to recovery is not how much plaque is on their teeth or if they have flossed recently. According to California Dental Association Journal (2014), “oral health is being overlooked in hospitals” (page 683). In June 2014, research was published in The Journal of Clinical Periodontology showing that in 162 clients studied on arrival and then two weeks after their arrival, they had an increase in plaque and gum disease (page 560). It is alarming as a health care provider that doctors, nurses, and other hospital …show more content…
For example, a stroke patient may not have control over their limbs. An aging adult may also have difficulty brushing due to arthritis and dexterity challenges. Health care providers have very little knowledge of the options out there for brushing teeth when a client has dexterity challenges. It is easy to forget that aging adults are not able to perform simple hygiene needs likes brushing and flossing. Small handled brushes are hard to grasp and tiny floss becomes an impossible challenge for aging adults. These challenges can become too overwhelming and cause a person to give up on their oral hygiene
Timothy Youmans
Loma Linda University
Introduction Oral health is an essential factor in our overall health and wellbeing. From newborns to aging adults, brushing is something we learn that is important and a habit that we continue throughout our entire lives. A visit to the hospital, either short or long, can have a devastating effect on a client’s oral health. When a client is being cared for, the main focus is usually to heal and rehabilitate the client for the problem that they were admitted for. When we are presented with a client who is recovering from open-heart surgery, the main concern for helping that client on their road to recovery is not how much plaque is on their teeth or if they have flossed recently. According to California Dental Association Journal (2014), “oral health is being overlooked in hospitals” (page 683). In June 2014, research was published in The Journal of Clinical Periodontology showing that in 162 clients studied on arrival and then two weeks after their arrival, they had an increase in plaque and gum disease (page 560). It is alarming as a health care provider that doctors, nurses, and other hospital …show more content…
For example, a stroke patient may not have control over their limbs. An aging adult may also have difficulty brushing due to arthritis and dexterity challenges. Health care providers have very little knowledge of the options out there for brushing teeth when a client has dexterity challenges. It is easy to forget that aging adults are not able to perform simple hygiene needs likes brushing and flossing. Small handled brushes are hard to grasp and tiny floss becomes an impossible challenge for aging adults. These challenges can become too overwhelming and cause a person to give up on their oral hygiene