Helping your loved one maintain good oral health can be challenging, especially when they have Alzheimer’s or dementia. The inside of the mouth isn’t an area that’s easily visible during daily activities. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, your loved one may struggle to manage oral care independently. This is a common challenge in dementia care, as they may also resist your attempts to assist them.
Unfortunately, poor oral care can quickly lead to health issues or injuries that go unnoticed. Providing proper dementia care services and attention is crucial to ensuring their overall well-being.
Why Oral Care is Difficult for Alzheimer’s Patients
Alzheimer’s disease affects various parts of the brain, leading your loved one to experience challenges with memory, problem-solving, and following directions. These difficulties often extend to the bathroom, particularly when it comes to maintaining good oral care.
In-home dementia care services can provide the support needed in these situations, as individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia may struggle with:
- Remembering the exact order of what he should do to brush his teeth.
- Forgetting that he didn’t brush his teeth or floss.
- Struggling to hold a toothbrush correctly or guide it into all areas of his mouth.
- Misjudging distances, making putting toothpaste on the toothbrush difficult or flossing impossible.
- Caring about his oral health and thinking that he needs to brush his teeth or floss.
Possible Consequences of Poor Oral Care
If your loved one doesn’t receive consistent, good oral care from dementia care providers or family caregivers, they might begin to experience some of the consequences, which can be especially challenging when managing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
- Sensitive teeth: He might have pain while eating cold or hot foods, leading him to avoid eating altogether.
- Tooth decay: If you are unable to help him clean his teeth thoroughly each day, including between teeth and along the gum line, his teeth may begin to decay, creating painful cavities and leading to possible tooth loss.
- Gum disease: His gums can become inflamed, making them painful and leading to possible bacterial infections, which can damage roots and also lead to tooth loss.
- Dry mouth: Cracked lips and even the tongue can be a sign that your loved one is struggling with dry mouth, which can lead to fungal infections.
Providing Oral Care Solutions
If you are struggling to provide good oral care for your loved one, having a provider come to the home who is skilled in Alzheimer’s and dementia care could solve your problems. A dementia care provider has the knowledge and experience of caring for Alzheimer’s patients with respect, patience, and gentleness. They’ve got some tricks and tips that they can use to help your loved one keep his oral health in good shape.
A dementia care provider will work directly with your loved one to see what techniques he is most receptive to, helping you take a break from the daily struggles to get him to take proper care of his teeth and gums. They can also sit with you and help you learn how to best negotiate a calm and satisfactory tooth-brushing session with your loved one when they aren’t there to step in and assist.
Learning new techniques, trying different products, and applying fresh ideas can help your loved one improve his oral health and avoid many of the health pitfalls of not properly caring for his teeth, gums, and tongue.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Dementia Care in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, please contact the caring staff at Actify Home Care today at (954) 902-6049
Actify Home Care provides exceptional home and facility care for anyone in Broward County, including Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Sunrise, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Miramar, Florida, and surrounding areas.
We offer services all around the South Florida area, if you have questions for us or don’t see your area listed just ask, we’d be happy to help. Contact us today!
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