Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene, though often taken for granted, is extremely important for long-term health and wellness. Some elderly people find the daily chore of brushing and flossing tiresome and may choose to brush less frequently than is recommended. In some cases, people are physically unable to brush, floss, or care for dentures. Compound this with less frequent visits to the dentist and what is usually a simple matter of hygiene can become a major health concern and, in the worst cases, a life-threatening situation.

Presidio Home Care provides caregivers who are well-trained in oral hygiene. Our caregivers are not dental technicians nor are they dentists, but they can assist with brushing, flossing, and hygienic denture care. They are also trained to be aware of our client’s oral health. They will observe the teeth and gums as they brush and report any significant or worrisome findings. They will communicate openly with the client about their oral health. If the client is experiencing any tooth pain, persistent sores, loss of taste, or persistent bad breath, they will report their findings to the administration and the client’s family so that any potential problems can be nipped in the bud.

Brushing and flossing is sometimes not enough. Some elderly individuals experience lower saliva production which can cause their mouths to be drier than normal. While this might sound like a simple annoyance, it is actually a quite serious situation. The mouth is an ecosystem that relies on consistent saliva production. Saliva helps maintain the pH of the mouth, keeps vital and sensitive tissues hydrated, helps digest our food, and helps lubricate food so that it can be easily swallowed into the stomach. If saliva production decreases it can lead to rapid tooth decay, infection of the gums and lining of the mouth, sensitive tissues can crack and bleed, and swallowing can become difficult and painful. Our caregivers are aware of the danger of dry mouth and will alert the client’s doctor if they observe low saliva production. They are also trained on basic treatment for dry mouth. They will keep liquids near the client, remind them to drink, provide them with foods that stimulate saliva production (like sugarless gum, or lemon rind) and they will make sure that the client is not intaking food or drink that inhibits saliva production (like coffee, alcohol, or very salty foods).

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