Home Care Assistance Helps Encourage Good Oral Health Habits

November 29 (or officially, the Friday after Thanksgiving) is National Flossing Day, a holiday created to remind everyone of the importance of taking good care of their teeth and oral health. Your elderly loved one needs to prioritise her teeth so she can continue to enjoy the foods she likes and maintain good health. A person’s oral health is often directly linked to other diseases like heart problems, so taking simple steps to protect your loved one’s oral health will benefit her overall health in many ways.

If your loved one struggles with oral care, having a home care assistance provider help her with oral care might be a great option. A home care assistance provider can help your loved one keep her mouth healthy and clean.
Flossing
Since it’s National Flossing Day, let’s start with an important step in your aging loved one’s oral health. Your loved one should floss at least once a day. If ailments like arthritis or poor eyesight make flossing difficult, her dentist might have options other than string floss to help her complete the task, like a water pick or a special brush. You might also ask your home care assistance provider to help with this task when they visit.
Brushing
Make sure your loved one is brushing her teeth twice a day – once before bed and again after breakfast or after she wakes up. She should use a fluoride toothpaste. Her toothbrush should be comfortable to use and replaced regularly. If gripping a toothbrush is difficult, look for adaptive toothbrushes that she can grip better or enlist the help of others like yourself or her home care assistance provider.
Watching for Changes
The risk of mouth cancer increases as a person ages, especially if your loved one was or is an active tobacco user. Sores that appear shouldn’t be ignored. If any of these issues occur and last more than 2 weeks, your loved one should have it reviewed by her dentist.

• A white or red spot that appears anywhere in the mouth or gums
• An area in your loved one’s mouth, lip, or throat that feels uncomfortable or
  sore, without a known cause (like burning it on hot coffee)
• An area that develops a lump or a thick spot on your loved one’s lips, mouth,
  or throat
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving her tongue or jaw
• Numbness in your loved one’s tongue or mouth
• Swelling of the jaw
• Pain in one ear without hearing loss
  
• Visiting her Dentist
  While each person’s dental schedule is different, talk to your loved one’s primary dentist to find out how often their office would like her to visit. Then schedule those appointments and help make sure she attends them to keep on top of her oral health. With proper care (and flossing!), your loved one will have her pearly whites for years to come.
• If you or an aging loved one are considering home care assistance in Denver, CO please contact the caring staff at FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver today at (303) 953-9575. FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver provides exceptional home care for seniors in Denver, Littleton, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Lakewood, Golden, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Aurora and surrounding areas.