Small changes can have a big impact, and that’s as true about your senior’s dental health as it is other health concerns. Here are just a few of the ways that your elderly family member can ensure that her mouth and teeth stay healthy.
Avoid Tobacco Products
Elder Care in Beverly Hills, CA: Dental Health
Tobacco products, like loose tobacco or cigarettes, are extremely detrimental to dental health. Smoking or using tobacco in other ways accelerates tooth decay and can contribute to oral cancers, tooth loss, and even gum disease. This isn’t an easy habit to kick, though, so your senior may want to talk with her doctor about ways to make quitting easier if she’s ready to do so.
Clean Teeth or Dentures Twice a Day
It’s easy to forget to clean dentures or to brush teeth. That’s even more true if your senior is battling depression or if she’s experiencing cognitive changes. Something that can help is for your elderly family member to have some help with these tasks. Elder care providers are able to assist with brushing teeth, keeping dentures sanitary, and so much more.
Consider Mouth Rinses for Dry Mouth
If dry mouth is an issue for your elderly family member, there are a variety of mouth rinses designed to help ease the condition. Drinking more water can help, too, especially if your elderly family member doesn’t typically drink a lot of water. Reducing situations that make dry mouth worse is also a good idea.
Check with Her Doctor about Dietary Changes
Talk to your senior’s doctor about any dietary changes that might help your elderly family member to keep her teeth and her mouth healthy. If she’s been eating less healthy foods, like junk food, that are easier for her to eat, then it’s imperative that she look into eating healthier foods more often. That helps to support her dental health and her overall health.
Make and Keep Dental Appointments
Dental appointments are vital throughout your senior’s life. Whether she has all of her natural teeth or has a full set of dentures, her dentist can help her to ensure that her mouth stays as healthy as it can be. There may be some other tips that her dentist has to help your senior to improve her dental health.
A healthy mouth helps your senior to stay healthier overall, so this is one area that you don’t want her to neglect at all.