In 2013, the New York Times published an article titled “In Nursing Homes, an Epidemic of Poor Dental Hygiene”—perhaps
for the first time awakening public awareness to the importance and insufficiency
of oral hygiene among residents in US nursing homes.
1
It included data such as that almost 30% of 540 residents in 20 Kansas nursing homes,
- Louis D.S.
In nursing homes, an epidemic of poor dental hygiene.
New York Times,
2013
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/in-nursing-homes-an-epidemic-of-poor-dental-hygiene/
Date accessed: October 15, 2018
2
and 1000 residents in 24 Wisconsin nursing homes,
- Weno K.
- Wellever A.
- Nazir N.
Elder Smiles 2012.
http://www.kdheks.gov/ohi/download/2012_Elder_Smiles_Report.pdf
Date accessed: October 15, 2018
3
had substantial debris on the majority of their teeth, and that in a study of 5 nursing
homes in New York, only 16% of residents received any oral care, and when they did,
the time spent tooth brushing was 16 seconds.
- Olson M.
Wisconsin Healthy Smiles survey: The Oral Health of Wisconsin’s Older Adults.
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p01121.pdf
Date accessed: October 15, 2018
4
It also included a quote from Dr Judith Jones, a pioneer in geriatric dentistry:
“I always say you can measure quality in a nursing home by looking in people's mouths,
because it's one of the last things to be taken care of.”
1
- Louis D.S.
In nursing homes, an epidemic of poor dental hygiene.
New York Times,
2013
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/in-nursing-homes-an-epidemic-of-poor-dental-hygiene/
Date accessed: October 15, 2018
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References
- In nursing homes, an epidemic of poor dental hygiene.New York Times, 2013 (Available at:)https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/in-nursing-homes-an-epidemic-of-poor-dental-hygiene/Date accessed: October 15, 2018
- Elder Smiles 2012.(Available at:)http://www.kdheks.gov/ohi/download/2012_Elder_Smiles_Report.pdfDate accessed: October 15, 2018
- Wisconsin Healthy Smiles survey: The Oral Health of Wisconsin’s Older Adults.(Available at:)https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p01121.pdfDate accessed: October 15, 2018
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- A systematic review of the preventive effect of oral hygiene on pneumonia and respiratory tract infection in elderly people in hospitals and nursing homes: Effect estimates and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008; 56: 2124-2130
- Will maintenance of oral hygiene in nursing home residents prevent pneumonia?.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018; 66: 590-594
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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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