Tips for Healthy and Consistent Dental Hygiene for Your Loved One
Elderly Care in New Providence NJ
Oral care efforts are some of the most important that you can make for your aging parent to protect their health and wellbeing, and guard them from serious consequences. Poor dental hygiene can 
lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased risk of dementia, and even serious infections throughout the body. Taking care of your parent’s mouth is about taking care of their entire body, and for some seniors that is not something that they can do completely on their own. If your aging parent suffers from limitations or challenges that make it difficult for them to handle their own dental care, your help or the help of an elderly care provider may be essential for keeping them as strong and healthy as you would like for them to be throughout their aging years.
Use these simple tips to help create and maintain a plan of healthy and consistent dental hygiene for your aging loved one:
- Make it a routine. Routines are valuable for elderly adults, particularly those who are suffering from cognitive limitations such as those that stem from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Structure and predictability not only make your senior feel more secure, but they also help them to keep up with more of their own personal care. If they know what is coming they are more likely to comply with care, or even to be able to do some of it themselves. Make taking care of their mouths a part of their morning and night routine so that they go through with it consistently each day.
- Use the right tools. If your parent needs direct help caring for their mouth, just a regular toothbrush may not be enough. Look into tools designed specifically for use by family caregivers or elderly home care services providers to simplify dental care for a senior and make it more effective. Some of these tools include off-set toothbrushes that fit the shape of the mouth better, scrubbers that fit over the finger for use in place of a toothbrush, and larger brushes that allow for more coverage faster.
- Do not sleep in dentures. If your parent wears dentures, it is just as important that they take care of them properly as it would be if they were caring for their natural teeth. These devices can build up bacteria and can be extremely irritating to the gums beneath them if not taken care of regularly. Make sure that your parent never sleeps in their dentures and that they place their dentures in the proper solution each night to keep them clean, healthy, and moisturized. This controls bacteria and helps prevents drying and cracking that can be detrimental to their fit and their health.
- Visit the dentist. Consistent dental care does not just happen at home. You must also make sure your parent continues to visit the dentist twice a year. This allows the dentist to perform regular cleanings and to detect if there are any serious problems developing, such as gum inflammation or periodontal disease.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional elderly care in New Providence, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
Source: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/gum-disease/article/how-poor-dental-care-can-affect-your-overall-health-0313
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