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G.O. Dental Care - Paul Kwauk

Dental Care For Residents
  • September 30, 2020

For health maintenance, elderly residents of nursing homes ought to have good oral care. A research article even pointed out that oral problems burden seniors. It's also mentioned that issues like tooth loss, gum disease, and cavitation are so common. But, of course, many of these problems have remedies today. Thus the said troubles are preventable. Even if there are mouth diseases like gingivitis that take a while to cure, there are treatments. Plus, in recent years, many seniors have been found to have kept their natural teeth too. That's likely because of their appreciation, and application of good dental care techniques. Likewise, facilities for assisted living became available to help old people.

Yet so many aren't able to avail of dental treatment due to some reasons.

  • After reaching 60 to 65 years old, some seniors no longer have insurance coverage for dental care.
  • Medicare won't cover oral care, routine procedures like dental cleaning, filling, and extractions.

Despite this, nursing homes have some fixes.

  • Staff nurses or caregivers can provide basic oral hygiene care. This involves routine procedures like toothbrushing, flossing, and the use of mouthwash.
  • The elderly can have a modified diet to suit for their dental needs. This means the reduction of sugar intake and an increase in calcium consumption.
  • The staff can mediate between the significant others of the elderly and experts. This is to say that they can act as liaisons to work on the treatment of diseases. Also, it's to make the emotional support available to old persons.

Tooth Brushing the Seniors

It's fine to leave able elderly folks to be independent in cleaning their teeth. But it's important to keep track of their mouth care. The experts and loved ones must make sure that they do correct toothbrushing. That is the kind that involves toothpaste use and gets bacteria removed from the teeth and gums. After all, there should be less plaque and food debris left after brushing. Likewise, the tongue, palate, and inner cheeks must be clean as well. Moreso, brushing should be done at least twice every day to keep the mouth healthy.

Now, some of the geriatrics aren't able to clean their mouths. Those with arthritis may find it difficult to raise their arms and even grip a toothbrush. Individuals with dementia might not be cooperative due to agitation and confusion too. To aid them, a specific technique may be essential. The details of the procedure by dementia expert, Teepa Snow, are below.

  • The care provider should stand on the dominant side of the person needing help.
  • The elderly holds the hand of the helper but the person assisting holds the toothbrush. This ensures that the helping individual has full control over the motions. It's beneficial since there would be control over the pressure exerted too. Some seniors have gum problems and thus need to be careful when scraping off things from their mouths.
  • One hand of the helper should be on the shoulder of the elderly person to trick the mind by diversion. Some of a person's attention goes to a hand on his or her shoulder by default. That's due to it not being normal. This approach can help divert an old person's focus and thus make the tooth brushing done by someone else less invasive. Still, to gain the confidence of old adults, care providers must be informative too. Nursing home residents may cooperate with enough information. This is to point out that they need to know why they need to brush. Likewise, it would help to explain the toothpaste they're using and how it's beneficial.
  • Dental Floss

    Flossing is as important as brushing since it removes plaque between teeth. Take note that there are just some things that you can't completely remove with a regular toothbrush. Now, those who'd help with the cleaning must know how to properly floss. It means having the expertise to hold it properly and remove plaque and debris thoroughly but gently. Of course, it goes with helping the elderly rinse their mouth after. That's so there'd be a guarantee that dental mucus and bacteria would be removed.

    The expert prosthodontist, Thomas J. Salinas, even recommends it. Overusing the water pick, he says that the floss is the most effective tool for cleaning tight spaces. Those areas are between the teeth. Yet, of course, other than flossing, water irrigation is important as well. That's because it may be hard to rely on scraping the sides of the teeth alone. Flushing might be necessary for thorough cleaning.