Dental care is so important for people of any age, but especially your aging adult. Whether she’s got all of her teeth or has a full set of dentures, these tips can help.
Schedule Those Dentist Visits
Dental visits at least once a year are just as important for older adults as they are for everyone else. Your elderly family member has a chance to make sure that any changes to her dental health are addressed quickly. If your senior wears dentures, her dentist can make sure that they fit properly and don’t create sores. Visiting the dentist can be scary, so work with your senior and her dentist to find ways to make the experience less frightening.
Pay Attention to Changes in Eating Behavior
Some aging adults are reluctant to share what’s going on with their dental health. One of the biggest tools you can use is your power of observation. Changes to your senior’s eating habits and behaviors can let you know that there’s something more going on. Watch for things like your senior choosing only liquids or soft foods or possibly chewing on only one side of her mouth. Grimacing while chewing or swallowing can also be a sign of trouble.
Look for Tools that Make Brushing Easier
If brushing her teeth is difficult for your elderly family member, look for tools that make the job easier. Special toothbrushes with larger handles or even electric toothbrushes are excellent choices. Another resource you might want to consider could be hiring senior care providers. They can help with the hands-on tasks associated with dental care and they can also show you and your senior different methods you can use to make taking care of her mouth and teeth easier.
Ask How Medications Affect Her Teeth
When you visit your senior’s doctor, make sure that you ask how medications that she takes affect her teeth. Some inhalers or even oral medications have side effects that directly impact teeth and gums. Others may cause dry mouth, which can contribute to tooth decay and other oral problems. The more aware you are of these potential issues, the more you can do to help avoid them.
Remember that dental care is really important even if your aging adult is missing all or most of her teeth. Dental health relates closely to overall health and keeping your senior’s mouth healthy helps her to be able to continue to eat the nutritious foods she needs to eat.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in River Oaks, TX, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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