The influence of aging on oral health and consequences for taste and smell

Oral diseases that are commonly seen in older adults can impair chemosensory function. Many stomatological conditions are preventable and treatable, yet unmanaged, they can cause significant morbidity and a diminished quality of life. Importantly, many oral diseases are not necessarily an inevitable consequence of growing old, and are frequently attributed to systemic diseases and their treatment. Although gustation may undergo mild age-related decrements, olfaction declines dramatically with greater age. The oral-facial region is intimately involved in the sensations of taste and smell, and diseases affecting this region in an older person could adversely affect an already compromised chemosensory system. Older adults with impaired taste and/or smell should be thoroughly evaluated for oral and pharyngeal diseases. It is reasonable to expect that a healthy adult can grow older with good oral health and function, and can continue to experience the hedonic pleasures of taste and smell associated with eating and drinking. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.