When becoming a family caregiver for your elderly loved one, something that you will need to think about is their dental health. There are many dental health issues that the elderly face. Some elderly people even have oral cancer. However, there are some things that you can do to help your elderly loved one maintain their dental health, to avoid these issues. Here are the best tips to help your senior with dental hygiene and how home care can help.
Brushing Teeth
We all remind children to brush their teeth. However, it is very important for adults to brush their teeth, as well. Sometimes, elderly people need reminders to brush their teeth. If you or a home care provider is helping your elderly loved one, this is something that you may need to help with. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have a good toothbrush, it might be a good idea to get them a different one. The spin toothbrushes are a great option.
Toothbrush Replacements
When was the last time your elderly loved one replaced their toothbrush? If it has been over 3 months, you or a home care provider should go out and get them a new one. If your elderly loved one continues to use the same toothbrush for too long, it may not do as good of a job cleaning their teeth. This could lead to dental issues in the future.
Dental Appointments
How long has it been since your elderly loved one went to a dentist appointment? For many elderly people, it is a good idea for them to see the dentist twice a year. However, if your elderly loved one’s dental health is great, they may only need to see their dentist once a year. By visiting the dentist regularly, dental issues (if there are any), can be caught early and treated. This can prevent even more issues from coming up.
Quit Smoking
Does your elderly loved one smoke cigarettes? If they do, you should encourage them to quit. Smoking can cause a lot of damage to one’s teeth. It might be difficult for them to quit smoking. However, there are many programs that can help them to do so.
Conclusion
As a family caregiver, thinking about your elderly loved one’s dental health is important. If you can help your loved one to maintain their dental health, it can prevent dental issues from occurring. It can also prevent infections. Sometimes, dental infections can get into the bloodstream which can cause further health issues. That is why it is extremely important to remind your elderly loved one to take care of their dental health.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/adult-oral-health/tips.html