The Caregiver’s Guide to Dental Health at Houston Dental Clinic

Dr. Firoz Lalani

Medically Reviewed By Dr. Firoz Lalani

Table of Contents

Why is dental health important for seniors?

When your loved ones are over 60, and you are the caregiver, you also need to think about their self-esteem, safety, and comfort. According to experts at a dental care Houston when you keep their teeth and mouth clean, it can help in preventing any pain or sensitivity in their teeth. A clean mouth feels fresh and it may improve their mood significantly. When it comes to safety, there may be some pieces of broken teeth, unsafe partials, or broken partials that they swallow by mistake. If you keep their mouth clean at all times, you can offer the best dental care as and when necessary and you can be sure that they suffer from minimum discomfort. And when it comes to their self-esteem, it is crucial for individuals to maintain a sense of pride and it can be largely affected by their hygiene and their appearance.

How much dental care do you need to offer?

The amount of dental care you need to give will completely depend on the person you are taking care of. If the people in your care can take care of their basic needs, let them do it. However, you may need to schedule regular dental visits to the best dentist in Houston TX  to ensure that all is going well with their oral care. However many adults might suffer from physical issues that can put them in a situation where they are not able to hold the toothbrush for long. Many others might suffer from memory issues so they may forget to floss and brush their teeth. Some people who suffer from serious memory conditions such as dementia might need you to take care of their dental health by cleaning their teeth every day and taking them to the Houston dentist for a regular check-up.

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Tips for caregivers to maintain dental health

No matter how much dental care you give every day, you need to make sure that the mouth of your loved one is healthy at all times. Here are some tips for caregivers to help in maintaining dental health for older adults:

  • Make sure that the teeth are brushed properly twice a day for at least two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
  • You can use a string of floss or various other between teeth cleaners available to clean the areas between the teeth every day.
  • Rinse the dentures of your loved ones after every meal, and brush these every day with a denture cleaner.
  • Make sure that you take dentures out right before bedtime and store them in clean water.
  • If your loved one suffers from dry mouth, you can use an alcohol-free mouthwash that might help.
  • To keep your loved ones from getting dehydrated, you can make them sip hot water, suck on ice chips and use a humidifier when they sleep.
  • Limit their consumption of snacks or drinks that contain sugar. You should promote the consumption of healthy drinks and foods instead such as water, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. These are good for the body and the mouth and can help in maintaining good oral hygiene.
  • Schedule dental appointments periodically as suggested by your doctor and make sure that you do not miss them. Even if your loved one uses dentures, they need to pay a visit to the best dentist in Houston
  • Watch out for symptoms that can signal bigger issues such as a change in breath suddenly. You should schedule an appointment with your dentist and get it all checked out.

Conclusion

There are more than 44 million caregivers for families in the United States alone. This staggering number clearly shows that these caregivers can benefit from some pieces of advice to help make their job easier. As a caregiver, you have obviously got many things on your mind and cannot always find the time to focus on one thing in particular. However, you need to keep the mouth of a loved one healthy since it is imperative for not only their dental health but for their overall health as well. You may have some additional questions particular to your own circumstances. In such cases always consult the experts at a dental care Houston and follow their advice religiously to maintain the oral health of your loved one.

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