Dental Care and Alzheimer’s - Tips for a Healthy Mouth
When a loved one has Alzheimer’s it can be a stressful and scary time. There are a lot of things to keep in mind health wise, and a never ending list of things to do. One often overlooked area of providing proper care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is their dental care. Dental health is important for overall health but is often times an overlooked area.
As a dentist for 20 years, I’ve helped dozens of families keep their loved one's oral health on track. Good dental care for patients with Alzheimer’s comes down to two keys things: at-home care and continued visits to the dentist. Keeping up with these two items can help keep your loved one's teeth healthy.
Keep Up a Good Dental Care Routine
The best way to prevent dental issues is to take good preventive care of them at home. Good care goes a long way, but unfortunately this can be a bit difficult for people suffering from Alzheimer’s. It might take a little bit of patience, but it’s worth it to keep their mouth healthy.
The first step is to make sure that brushing and flossing don’t fall by the wayside. These are both extremely important to keeping their mouth and body in good health. For patients with Alzheimer’s, it may be necessary to provide them with a bit more instructions to help them along. You’ll want to make sure to provide clean and discreet instructions that are not too long or complicated. Don’t be too broad; instructions like “brush your teeth” are often a bit too ambiguous and can be frustrating.
Try breaking it into steps like “grab your toothbrush” and “put the toothpaste on it.” These are more actionable and clear. If the instructions still don’t work, you can also try gently brushing for them. This should be done gently and never forced. If they are resistant to it, try coming back later and trying again. Sometimes changing the time or place can make all the difference.
Lastly, another quick tip is to keep away from the electric toothbrushes. While convenient, they are often much more confusing and can frustrate the individual. It’s better to start with a standard toothbrush as these are much simpler to use.
Visiting the Dentist Regularly
Next up, it’s important to make sure that the individual continues to visit the dentist. While at-home care is great, the dentist is just as important. They can provide a much deeper clean, and remove built-up plaque and tartar that can lead to gum disease, tooth decay and more. A dentist can also help catch issues and provide advice on gaps in their dental care routine. Brushing is important, but it’s also important to make sure that it’s been done correctly. This is especially the case if you’re helping your loved one brush. The dentist can help make sure that your care is on track as it’s difficult to tell without proper training. That proper training is just what your dentist has.
It’s also important to make sure you’re working with the right dentist. Don’t be afraid to ask about their experience, especially in working with patients with Alzheimer’s. Having a dentist that understands the needs of patients can go a long way and can help make the whole process easier. A well-versed dentist will also have tips on helping with at-home care. Lastly, if visiting the office is too difficult, it doesn’t hurt to look at traveling dentist options. These types of dentists will be able to travel to the patient’s home and perform routine procedures such as a cleaning there. This can make things much easier on the patient as being in a familiar location can help make the process less intimidating.
With the above in mind, you’ll be better equipped to keep your loved one's dental health on track. This will not only keep them free of disease, but will also help mitigate pain and lead to a better quality of life. As always, if you have any further questions never hesitate to talk to your dentist. They are there to help and will be happy to answer your questions.