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	Growing numbers of elderly people are ending up needlessly losing their teeth and suffering painful infections because of the rising use of high-sugar supplement drinks, dentists have warned.</p>
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	The sugary drinks, which were given to older people to build up their strength, were helping to ruin their teeth, said Dr Anne Twomey, a dentist in Carrigaline in Cork.</p>
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	&quot;The older person may be on several medications which cause dry mouth and the damage happens as a result of the high sugar. They may also not be brushing their teeth.&quot;</p>
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	This trend has only emerged in the past five to 10 years and comes as more older people live longer with their own teeth.</p>
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	A decade ago, they would nearly all have had dentures, she pointed out.</p>
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	&quot;It&#39;s a perfect storm. It is exacerbated by visitors to hospitals and nursing homes bringing them sugary treats,&quot; said Dr Twomey, who is vice-president of the Irish Dental Association.</p>
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	&quot;They may not be able to brush their teeth themselves and there is nobody brushing for them,&quot; she said.</p>
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	It can mean an older person&#39;s remaining teeth are wiped out in about three months. &quot;By the time I see them, they may have just dirty black roots left,&quot; said Dr Twomey.</p>
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	The knock-on effect is that they are losing teeth, which, in turn means they are less able to enjoy a variety of healthy foods, such as fruit.</p>
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	&quot;I am not saying the sugary supplements should not be used but there are alternatives that also need to be included in the diet.</p>
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	&quot;These could include super milk with added vitamins and home-made soup. We need to strike a balance.&quot;</p>
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	Dr Twomey, who first highlighted her concerns in the &#39;Journal of the Irish Dental Association&#39;, cited one patient who was 75 years old and very frail.</p>
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	She weighed just 40kg and had end-stage Parkinson&#39;s disease and mild dementia.</p>
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	Nursing staff were unclear if she had a toothache and she was distressed. It emerged the woman&#39;s teeth were only cleaned twice a day with a sponge. Dr Twomey had to carry out phased tooth extractions on the woman.</p>
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	&quot;A week later, the woman was unrecognisable as she was sitting eating her dinner. She now has an electric toothbrush I have shown assistants how to use. The HSE is reneging in its duty to provide adequate care for nursing home patients,&quot; she said.</p>
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	She said that training programmes for healthcare assistants in nursing homes in oral care should be mandatory and meaningful.</p>
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	&quot;A low-sugar message should be sent out to all. These patients did not reach old age on a high sugar diet.&quot;</p>
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	Visitors should be encouraged to bring non-food gifts.</p>
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	&quot;Patients&#39; bedrooms in nursing homes can often resemble a sweet shop. Irish people have a tradition of bringing a food gift when visiting,&quot; she said.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 2nd February 2017)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/sugary-supplement-drinks-ruining-elderly-peoples-teeth-35417050.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/sugary-supplement-drinks-ruining-elderly-peoples-teeth-35417050.html</a></p>
