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Sean Skinner urges Beaufort County seniors to treat oral health as part of overall care
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Summary
At a Senior Day event at Buckwalter Recreation Center, Sean Skinner of the South Carolina Oral Health Action Network told seniors that oral health affects chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia, reviewed warning signs to watch for, and shared free and low-cost local dental resources.
Sean Skinner of the South Carolina Oral Health Action Network urged seniors at a Senior Day event at Buckwalter Recreation Center in Beaufort County to treat oral health as part of overall medical care, saying dental conditions can affect chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia.
Skinner told the audience that "the mouth is the gateway to the body" and described the bidirectional relationship between gum disease and systemic illness. "If you're dealing with gingivitis or periodontitis, any type of gum disease, you're going to have issues with managing your diabetes," he said, and he urged attendees to make sure their medical and dental providers share information: "The right hand shakes the left." The moderator invited the comments during the county's Senior Day programming.
Skinner identified cost and fear as the leading barriers to dental care for older adults and said his group distributed a Delta Dental resource guide listing free and low-cost options available in South Carolina and locally in Beaufort County. "There is plenty of free and low cost dental care options around this state and right around the county down here," he said, and emphasized that residents need to know where to find those services.
He walked seniors through warning signs to check in their mouths — receding, bleeding or puffy gums; bone erosion; white patches; dry or burning mouth; and loose or wiggly teeth — and urged anyone who notices such changes to consult a dentist or physician. Skinner recommended daily self-checks and regular dental visits; depending on individual need he said some people require more frequent visits than the typical twice-yearly exam.
On preventive hygiene, Skinner recommended fluoridated toothpaste and water when available, careful use of powered toothbrushes and routine flossing. He cautioned that some home remedies (for example, rinsing with sea salt or baking soda) are not substitutes for professional care. Speaking from Beaufort County after traveling from Columbia, Skinner closed by thanking the audience; the moderator thanked him for participating in the program.
The event concluded with no formal action; Skinner encouraged seniors to bring oral-health concerns to both their medical and dental providers and to use the resource guide to find local, low-cost services.
