Everyday health Note · 4 min read

Teeth, gums and dentures: the part of health everyone forgets

Most older Indians have lost some teeth, but very few wear dentures. Why it matters for eating, and how to care for dentures properly

The Pushpa team · 4 sources

Pushpa notes29

Roti chabane mein dikkat hoti hai

Brush twice a day
Dentures out at night, cleaned
Dentist check-up

A good bite

If roti has quietly disappeared from her plate, or she eats only soft dal and rice, teeth may be the reason. Oral health rarely makes the family health conversation, yet it's one of the most common problems in old age. In LASI, more than half of Indians over 60 (51.3%) reported a common oral health problem

72%

of Indians over 60 have lost some of their teeth, but only 3.1% use dentures (LASI Wave 1)

Why it matters

Missing teeth make eating and speaking harder, the NHS says, and that can mean a narrower diet just when older bodies need more protein and vegetables. Worldwide, the WHO estimates that 23% of people over 60 have lost all their teeth, and severe gum disease affects more than a billion cases

Caring for dentures

Take them out every night. The NHS says wearing them overnight raises the risk of gum infection
Brush them every morning and evening, but not with toothpaste, which can scratch them
Rinse after meals
If they rub, click or slip, go back to the dentist. Ill-fitting dentures stop being worn

How often to see a dentist

The NHS says check-ups can be needed anywhere from every 3 months to every 2 years, depending on her teeth and gums. Ask her dentist which is right for her, and go sooner if anything hurts or her dentures stop fitting

How Pushpa helpsPushpa asks what she ate on the evening call. If chewing comes up, or meals get softer and smaller, it goes into the family's morning report as something to look into