Preparing Your Aging Parent for a Trip to the Dentist
Home Care in Hunterdon NJ
A large percentage of the older population throughout the United States suffers serious oral health issues. In fact, approximately 25 percent of the population of adults over the age of 65 
throughout the United States no longer have any of their natural teeth. This loss can be due to a variety of issues, including decay, gum disease, and trauma. Through more effective oral health care at home as well as regular visits to the dentist, your parent can reduce their risk of serious complications, including tooth loss.
Use these tips to help prepare your aging parent for a trip to the dentist:
- Explain why they are going. Take the time to explain to your aging parent why they need to go to the dentist. Whether it is for a routine checkup or because they have been suffering a health concern, such as pain or trauma, make sure that they understand the purpose of the visit and what you hope they will achieve through it. This is especially important if your aging parent is suffering any cognitive functioning limitations, such as due to Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
- Encourage them to brush beforehand. Make sure that your aging parent brushes, flosses, and uses mouthwash before they head into the dentist. This will help the dentist to see the condition of their teeth at their best so that they are better able to evaluate them and find any potential issues.
- Talk to the dentist about concerns. If your aging parent is afraid of the dentist, has dementia, or is particularly sensitive to pain, consider talking with the dentist ahead of time. Explain these concerns so that the doctor better knows how to give your parent the type of care that will be most effective, most comfortable, and least stressful for them.
- Guide them through. Help your parent understand what they might experience at the dentist. Talk them through the cleaning, x-rays, examination, and any procedures that you know that they will need. This will help them to feel less out of control and anxious during the appointment. Encourage them to ask the dentist any questions that they might have so that they can be fully informed before the actual procedures begin.
Starting senior care for your aging parent is a fantastic way to help them achieve and maintain better health throughout their later years. A senior home care services provider can help your parent understand the tasks of caring for their health and then give them support and assistance to fulfill these tasks effectively. When it comes to your aging parent needing to go to the dentist, this senior home care services provider can provide reliable and safe transportation to the appointment, accompany them to the appointment, and fulfill tasks such as taking notes to share the information with you later. This helps you to feel more confident that you would be able to give them the type of care that they need to help them to be at their best and enjoy a higher quality of life as they age in place.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional home care in Hunterdon, 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: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/factsheets/adult_oral_health/adult_older.htm
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