Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs
Helping Your Elderly Parents Care For Their Teeth
Joe Lawrence
As a child, your parents had to teach you how to brush your teeth, how to floss, and take you to the dentist when necessary. All of the years of teaching you good oral hygiene will come in handy when you have nice teeth that are free of issues. Once your parents are older, you may find that the roles are reversed and that you will need to take your parents to the dentist in order to keep up with their oral hygiene. If your parents are now elderly and need your help with medical appointments and problems, here are some way to help your elderly parents care for their teeth.
Purchase spin toothbrushes
As people grow older, their teeth may lose strength. This means that they will need soft bristle toothbrushes so that they are not rough on their teeth and gums. Purchase your parents an electric toothbrush with spinning brush heads so that they have an automatic soft toothbrush to use. The spinning brush heads help those who have balance issues or may have tremors in the hand. The brush will be able to get the surface of their teeth cleaned without any problems.
Take them to the dentist quarterly
Whether your parents still have a healthy set of teeth or they are dealing with the process of getting dentures, they should go to the dentist more often. The dentist will be able to monitor the health of your parent's teeth and gums and will be able to give your family a game plan to keep your parent's health. Early issues such as the need for a filling or new sealants can also take place while getting a checkup. By hearing the dentists instruction and prognosis, you can also help your parents remember what they should be doing to care for their teeth if they tend to be forgetful.
Redo their diet
Some of the things that your parents used to eat when you were younger may no longer be a good idea today. Popcorn, candied items, and hard candy can make your parent's teeth worse for the wear. Though many elderly will keep their sweet tooth, a dietary change is important in order to protect the enamel of the teeth. In order to keep your parent's and their mouth healthy, you should restructure their diet to include more fiber, proteins, and bone strengthening food choices with calcium. This will keep them healthy overall plus protect them from tooth decay and loss.
For more information about dental care, contact a local professional.
Share
Caring for an elderly parent tends to be tough enough without the added stress of dealing with dental implants or dentures. But, the prospect is not the end of the world—there are many things you can do to ensure that your parent's dental health is not compromised without having to spend a lot of personal time doing the care yourself. Between working with the right dentist, hiring a service provider for part time work, and giving your parent the tools he or she needs to care for his or her own dental health at home, you'll find that dental health for your loved one isn't so tough or time consuming after all. Hopefully you are able to get the support and information you need right here.