When you swallow food, it goes from the esophagus to the stomach. At the bottom of the esophagus there is a valve that opens when you swallow and then closes after. But when this valve becomes weaker or becomes stuck (like in the case of a hernia), stomach acid can splash back up and damage the lining. In severe cases, you may regurgitate food and even have stomach acid come back up in your throat and mouth. You can learn more about the basics in the following video: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdK0jRFpWPQ[/embed] While GERD can happen to anyone, even babies, it is quite common in the aging population. According to NCBI, those in their 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s have physiological changes that can make it difficult to sense acid in the esophagus, so they may not get help until damage has already been done. And besides being horrible for the digestive tract, GERD can be horrible for seniors' oral health since it can cause dry mouth (which can lead to the growth of bacteria) and since regurgitated acids can wear down enamel. Making sure senior patients don't have GERD is imperative since this demographic already struggles with tooth wear due to aging:
As you can see, 123dentist.com has some good tips for reducing additional tooth wear. GERD can also be managed with certain lifestyle choices. The main issue is that many seniors need to take medications as they age--many of which can cause dry mouth and GERD as symptoms. One way to combat the issue is through salivary stimulants, according to John Flucke's dental tech blog:
Salivary stimulants can decrease dry mouth, which in turn allows saliva to take care of any regurgitated acids. Along with this solution it is important for seniors to still see their dentists regularly for preventative cleanings. Teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments are vital for strengtehing any enamel that has been worn down by acid. Take a look at dentaloasisofoc.com/preventive-dentistry/teeth-cleaning/ for more information. The post How Does GERD Affect Senior Patients’ Oral Health? is available on: www.dentaloasisofoc.com Dental Oasis Of Orange County 7777 Edinger Ave #232 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 894-7700 [email protected] Google My Business Listing Google Map Directions to our office Yelp Page via Blogger How Does GERD Affect Senior Patients’ Oral Health?
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