Myths about older people learning new dental health information

Myth breaker: Old dogs can learn new tricks

Contrary to the old adage: - You can teach old dogs new tricks!
As we live longer, we also want and need to stay healther longer. Our teeth need to last longer. Dr Rodrigo from the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre at the University of Melbourne debunked myths about learning and older people in a recently article in the Australian Dental Journal 2015.

Dr Rodrigo pointed out that providing clinical treatment to older patients was only part of the health story. For better health people need to effectively self- manage disease prevention.

Broken myths-new learning

1. Older adults can change lifelong habits successfully
2. Learning and understanding your own health can lead to very successful health changes

We know each of our patients "has a story" and our aim is to help you by respecting your whole life experience and helping you understand what we now know about healthy teeth and gums. We customise our health information for your individual circumstances. Please feel free to ask any questions and let us know when you don't understand what we are saying - sometimes we forget and do "dental speak"!

Dental Cleaning pro tips from the ADA

Revised: 1 April 2022