Alzheimer’s Disease can lead to some oral health problems, so maintaining good oral care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is essential. Living with Alzheimer’s can make it difficult for your loved one to care for his teeth and gums properly, but Alzheimer’s home care services can help.
Oral Health Mistakes Alzheimer’s Patients Make
Because of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, your loved one may at first seem to be on top of caring for his teeth and gums but then progressively lose the ability to complete this twice-daily task. He may not remember certain parts of important daily oral care, or he might find himself struggling to perform everyday tasks due to confusion and misunderstandings.
A few reasons your loved one might struggle with this self-care process and need Alzheimer’s home care are:
- He can no longer remember the correct order to do things. He might try to brush his teeth before applying the toothpaste.
- He might struggle to judge distances and miss getting the toothbrush into his mouth, ramming it against the lips or cheek and causing pain.
- He might have no interest in taking care of his teeth and simply refuse to brush or floss.
- He could think he’s brushed his teeth each day but in reality, hasn’t brushed his teeth all week.
Alzheimer’s Home Care Providers Can Help Your Loved One With Oral Care
Once you realize your loved one needs assistance brushing and flossing his teeth, you will need to add this to your daily care routine. You might find that having an Alzheimer’s home care specialist come to the home to help with some personal care tasks can relieve you of that burden and free you up for other responsibilities.
An Alzheimer’s home care provider can help with oral care along with other care needs. The Alzheimer’s home care provider will also support you by offering you the same tips they know so you can succeed when they aren’t around to help.
Alzheimer’s Home Care Tips for Oral Care
Whether it’s you or your loved one’s Alzheimer’s home care provider, here are a few tips to help with tooth brushing and mouth care:
- If your loved one seems leery of the toothbrush or bites down on it, consider getting a child’s toothbrush that isn’t as intrusive.
- When it comes to flossing, getting to those back teeth with floss wrapped around your fingers can be difficult and sometimes painful if your loved one bites down. Consider using other flossing tools such as floss threaders, oral irrigators, or floss picks.
- If your loved one is able but needs guidance, let him do as much brushing as he can. Talk him through each step and offer gentle guidance if needed if he struggles with depth perception.
- If you are holding the brush, look for brushes with longer handles to reach the back of the mouth easily.
- Remind your loved one to rinse after each brushing and after meals. A good rinse can remove a lot of food debris and protect his teeth. If he’s able, have him rinse with a fluoride mouthwash, but only if you’re confident he won’t swallow it.
- Finally, keep those dental appointments. Look for a dentist trained in helping Alzheimer’s patients maintain good oral care throughout the progression of their disease.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Scottsdale, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Legacy Home Care today. Call (480) 777-0070
Legacy Home Care is a top provider of home care services in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Sun Lakes, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Phoenix, and surrounding areas.
Legacy Home Care has been serving the valley since 2007. We are family owned and operated with over 75 caregivers. We offer a customized care plan that includes services such as: Hourly Senior Home Care, 24-Hour Home Care, Dementia Care, Personal Care and Companion Care. Also ask us about our Veterans' Home Care program.
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