October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which is a great time for seniors to focus on oral health and why it’s important for their overall well-being. Maintaining good dental hygiene is important for people of any age, but when it comes to seniors, good oral health helps to prevent complications that could have bigger consequences. Personal care at home can play a massive role in helping seniors to stick with good oral care routines.
Why Oral Health Matters for Seniors
Oral health needs change over time, especially for aging adults. Seniors tend to face difficulties like gum disease, dry mouth, and tooth decay. Poor oral hygiene can lead to health issues, like infections that affect the heart and other organs. The big problem is that many seniors find it to be difficult to stick to consistent dental routines. That can happen because of mobility challenges, health issues like arthritis, or even memory issues.
Personal Care at Home and Dental Hygiene
Personal care providers can remind seniors to brush and floss or take care of dental appliances like dentures. If seniors have physical limitations, home care providers can offer practical assistance with dental care tasks. Establishing routines is another potential problem, and caregivers can easily work dental hygiene tasks into daily routines easily and consistently.
Supporting Seniors with Cognitive Challenges
Seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive challenges might feel especially frustrated by dental hygiene tasks. Gentle reminders, including visual cues like calendars and charts, can help seniors to stay on target with their oral hygiene tasks. Creating a calm, structured environment that is also compassionate and supportive can help them so much.
Preventing Dental Complications
Preventing complications is another way that personal care at home can help seniors. Caregivers can watch for changes in oral health, like swollen gums or discomfort during brushing, that might indicate something else is going on. If seniors exhibit other changes, like not wanting to eat because of dental pain, caregivers can help them to get the dental care they need. Ignoring these initial issues can lead to bigger complications, like contributing to heart disease.
Nutritional Support for Better Oral Health
Dental hygiene isn’t just about brushing and flossing, though. Seniors who eat a healthier diet are more likely to experience better overall health, including oral health. If aging adults need a specific diet, that isn’t something that they can really ignore. Home care providers can help seniors to eat a better mix of healthy foods, stay properly hydrated, and maintain regular mealtimes. Nutritious eating habits have far-reaching impacts on overall well-being. Better oral hygiene makes it easier for seniors to eat healthier foods that might have been more painful to eat when their hygiene habits weren’t as consistent.
National Dental Hygiene Month offers families an opportunity to look deeper and see if there are changes that could help seniors to experience better oral health. Working with personal care at home is just one of the ways for aging adults to improve their dental hygiene habits.
If you or an aging loved one are considering personal care at home in Hampton, NH, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands Home Care – Seacoast NH today! 603-824-8200
Assisting Hands Home Care – Seacoast NH provides exceptional home in Portsmouth, Rye, New Castle, North Hampton, Hampton, Stratham, Exeter, Durham, Dover, Seabrook, Greenland, Rochester, Hampton Falls and surrounding areas.
