Poor Oral Health Tied To Chronic Disease And Worse Overall Health.
In Ontario 45% of people 65 and older did not see a dentist in the last year. Studies show a lack of regular dental care increases their risk of chronic diseases and a reduced quality of life. Poor oral health can contribute to many serious medical conditions as well as affect a person’s ability to chew and digest food properly. With dental services not covered under the universal health-insurance program and many older adults not visiting dentists regularly, the study findings suggest that there should be more thought given into services provided to seniors in order to keep them healthy as they age.