Regardless of age, dental hygiene is one of the major keys to living a long, happy, and pain free life. This is even more true for seniors. Often time seniors have false teeth, caps, or if they have retained their original teeth, they are susceptible to a wide range of dental problems.
As a caregiver, part of the job is to make sure that the client maintains good dental hygiene It is always important for seniors to make regular trips to the dentist.
One of the great things about home care is having someone on hand who is looking out for issues like these. For seniors who still retain their original teeth, cavities, decay, and exposed roots can cause them pain. For those who have dentures, oral blisters, swelling, and poorly fitting dentures can lead to further health complications.
Poor fitting dentures can cause a condition known as denture-induced stomatitis, which is a build up of fungus that grows underneath the dentures, and can cause pain, and exacerbate other oral health issues.
Tooth loss, and gum disease strike seniors at a much higher rate, than young people. Much of this is due to poor oral hygiene over the years, and a dentist should be consulted immediately. As a caregiver allowing the situation to go unattended can lead to several health problems, such as gum disease, which can result in heart disease, and even cancer if left untreated.
As a caregiver always make sure that the client brushes their teeth at least twice a day, and flosses at least once. Help the client set up regular dentist appointments, this will help catch any problems in the early stages.
When working in the home care industry it is important to check with clients to see is they have any lumps or swelling in the mouth. A caregiver will also want to check for any loose teeth, difficult chewing, darkening of the teeth, receding gums, or any other recent changes. A caregiver should keep track of their clients dental appointments, and help ensure that they make their regular trips to the dentist.
As a caregiver, part of the responsibilities are to make sure that clients correctly attends to any oral issues as soon as possible. If the client complains of soreness when they brush, buy them toothpaste made for sensitive teeth, and make sure to schedule a dentist appointment to check for problems.
