Introduction
Everything your parents told you is still true today—eat your fruits and veggies!
Many older adults do not eat balanced diets and avoid meats, raw vegetables and fresh fruits because they have trouble chewing or swallowing. These problems can be caused by painful teeth, ill-fitting dentures, dry mouth or changes in facial muscles. Others find their sense of taste has changed, sometimes due to a disease or certain medications. Because of these and other factors, the diets of older adults are often lacking in calcium, protein and other nutrients essential to dental and overall health.
The following interactive modules will help you learn about the connection between the health of your mouth and what you put in it:
Penny Wilson became an "iron-jaw" performer at age 12 in the early 1950s. Here she is shown performing her "Butterfly" routine in Butte, Montana in 1953.
