How to Help Senior Citizens with their Oral Dental Health Care

There are many reasons why, as people grow older, their oral health also declines. The common causes of poor oral health among seniors is their inability to do even the simplest physical activities because of loss of mobility, muscle strength, and balance. When people age, dental health will also be compromised because of impaired memory. Oral health among our senior population can also be caused by various medical conditions.

It is crucial to give importance to geriatric dental care because it can lead to other more severe health conditions. It is noted that poor oral hygiene can contribute to pneumonia while untreated gum disease can be linked to heart disease. Periodontitis, which is the inflammation of tissues around the teeth, can also exacerbate diabetes. When tooth loss, dry mouth and periodontal caries are evident, unquestionably, a senior has poor oral hygiene.

Although it may sound inconvenient, ensuring oral health among our older loved ones is doable. Here are some tips that you can follow to maintain oral health if you have a senior living with you in your home.

Set a Schedule for Brushing and Flossing

By scheduling their brushing and flossing, it will be instilled in their consciousness so they will not forget to brush or floss. You can schedule brushing every after breakfast and supper while flossing can be done after lunch. You should never let the schedule be broken so as not to break the routine. It will be better if all of you in the household practice what you teach.

Help When Needed

Senior citizens may not be able to brush or floss by themselves. It may also because of certain diseases like arthritis. In this case, you may have to help them.

Mouthwash Helps

Choose a safe mouthwash that is potent enough to kill or at least inhibit harmful microorganisms in the oral cavity. But be wary of some mouthwash products that are too strong that may worsen the drying of the mouth. You can also schedule mouth washing every morning upon waking up.

Look for the Best Dentist

A regular check-up to the dentist will help you attain the oral health of your aged loved one. When going to a dentist, you should always make an appointment so there will be no waiting time when you are in the clinic. You can book an appointment or log in to their websites to be able to know also their other services. When you are bringing a senior with you, it really helps a lot if you will be able to find the most accommodating and competent geriatric dentist in the city.