The elderly usually develop a decrease in appetite, leading to a lower intake of vitamins and minerals. However, many nutrients are recommended at the same amounts as younger people. Another reason why inadequate nutrition levels are more prominent with elders is if their dental status is poor, with missing teeth or ill fitting dentures, it can negatively affect their taste and ability to chew on food. Even well-fitted dentures are less efficient than natural teeth in terms of chewing, so changes in diet to softer foods often happen. Such foods often contain more fermentable carbohydrates, which raise individuals’ risk to developing dental caries. Oral changes The most common oral conditions in geriatric patients are tooth loss, dental caries, periodontitis, dry mouth and oral cancer. Each can affect the quality of life. Changes to Saliva Polypharmacy is common in geriatric patients, which can cause a multitude of symptoms. Xerostomia is amongst the most common, commonly linked to antidepressants, psycholeptics, inhaled medications such as Salbutamol and the slight degeneration of salivary gland function with aging. Chronic dry mouth is prevalent in a high proportion of the elderly population, affecting roughly one fifth of the group. There has been a link between dry mouth and comorbid diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease Additionally, xerostomia can arise from general dehydration. A dry mouth can be associated with caries, cracked lips, fissured tongue and oral mucositis. It can impact heavily on the patient’s quality of life, affecting taste, speaking, enjoyment and ingestion of food, and fitting dentures. Changes to the Oral Mucosa Changes to the oral mucous membrane including the epithelium and connective tissue, result in decreased immunity against pathogens. There is a loss of elasticity and stippling, with a general thinning over time. Diseases such as oral thrush can become more prevalent, and the healing rate lowers. Geriatric patients are more likely to develop oral cancers too, which often start on the side of the tongue, floor of mouth or lips. Changes to the Teeth With continued chewing, talking, and general use, the tooth eventually wears down with attrition and dental erosion most commonly seen. The outermost translucent layer, enamel, does not regenerate, so as it thins down the underlying yellowish layer, dentine, can show through or even become exposed. Aesthetically, teeth may look more yellow than white, and can become stained more easily. Dentine continues to be produced, resulting in the formation