As we grow older some things have to change to continue to maintain good oral health. The elderly face many challenges when faced with basic routines they could practice when they were younger. Cavities, gum diseases, and oral cancers are commonly found in the elderly. This is due to several factors, including diet, medications, physical health, and oral health routines.
How to maintain good oral habits with limited mobility
Flossing your teeth, Brushing, and using a good mouthwash with fluoride is the standard recommendation for everyone. If you have limited mobility, it’s time to be innovative. You don’t have to practice your routine in the bathroom. Place your hygiene material in the drawer next to your bed with a cup of water. When you wake up, sit up in bed and brush, floss, and gargle in the comfort of your bed.
If you wear dentures, always remove them before brushing. Another good practice is to soak your dentures overnight to kill off all bacteria that may accumulate it hard to reach places. This ensures you get all the small particles that can get lodged between your gums and dentures.
Maintaining good oral habits with limited strength
The next step is to invest in a good electronic toothbrush. Getting a good electronic toothbrush will allow you to clean all of your teeth without struggling to brush with angles you’re not capable of anymore.
There are different flosses that are convenient and used with one hand. The most popular selling is the floss that looks like the letter Y bent to the left. It’s a piece of plastic with a half-inch piece of floss running between the Y. You can hold it with one hand and get into your teeth’s hard to reach places.
As you get older, it can be frustrating to not be able to practice the habits you had for so many years. With new technology, even if you have limited mobility or strength, it is possible to maintain good oral health. Our office is dedicated to providing new oral care strategies and tools to stay healthy. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us. If you’d like to schedule a checkup, we are happy to help.
For more information about dental hygiene, call Dr. Sciabica in Issaquah, WA at 425-392-3900 or visit www.issaquahdentists.com.
Dr. Frank S. Sciabica proudly serves patients from Issaquah and all surrounding areas.