TREATMENT OF ORAL AND NONORAL SOURCES OF HALITOSIS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Tile increasing number of older patients being seen in medical and den tal offices in the industrialised world emphasises the need for a thor ough understanding of the normal aging process. Additionally, close at tention must be paid to the; disease processes that affect this specia l needs population. Although there are many positive psychosocial issu es associated with the aging patient, many diseases and disabilities a ssociated with the aging process place an increased burden on the elde rly patient. The relationship between general and oral health must be understood by the practitioner if therapies are to be effective.Althou gh it is not the objective of this article to provide a comprehensive review of oral healthcare, an attempt will be made to provide general information on the diagnosis and treatment planning for oral malodours often associated with poor oral and/or systemic health. Every healthc are provider treating the elderly patient for oral malodours must reco gnise that there is potentially a direct relationship between the oral and systemic health of the patient. While most oral malodours have a simple cause, no single therapy is always effective. For best results, a team approach to diagnosing and treating oral malodours involves th e dentist, physician, dietician and pharmacist. This multidisciplinary approach should be arranged before the onset of any complex therapy. When indicated, supportive, responsible family members should be addit ionally involved to assure patient compliance. The mouth and teeth can be a source of great pride and pleasure. A beautiful smile is one of the most pleasant greetings a human can offer. Enjoying a meal of fine food and drink is truly gratifying. Unfortunately, the oral hard and soft tissues can also be a source of pain, social discomfort and disea se. Additionally, the mouth can be a valuable diagnostic tool. In fact , the oral environment has long been recognised as a potential early i ndicator of systemic disease. Unfortunately, in the presence of system ic or oral disease, the mouth and surrounding structures can be a sour ce of a significant social problem - disagreeable breath odours. In se vere cases, oral malodours can lead to social isolation and ostracism.