Tips for looking after older-aged relatives’ teeth
Are you looking after an older-aged relative? You’re not alone – in NZ, one in 10 Kiwis are carers for the elderly.
We know it can seem complicated to look after their oral health as well as everything else. So, we’ve put together this guide on how teeth change as people age, and quick tips to look after an older-aged relative’s mouth.
What happens to your teeth when you get older?
As people get older, the outer layer of their teeth (the enamel) can wear away, leaving their teeth exposed to a higher risk of oral health problems. This is called attrition, and it can lead to gum disease, root decay, discolouration and sensitive teeth – if not looked after properly.
All about ageing teeth and gums
Attrition of the teeth is perfectly normal, and will likely happen to anyone even with the best dental habits throughout life. Of course, things like excessive sugar or alcohol consumption, smoking, teeth grinding and so on can speed this up.
The key things to watch out for in an elderly person’s mouth are:
Receding gums, which is a common cause for tooth loss.
Gingivitis (gum disease), which may cause receding gums and infection. This may appear as gum inflammation, bleeding, swelling or chronic bad breath.
Sensitivity, caused when parts of the teeth not protected by enamel become exposed.
Decay, symptoms of which may be chronic tooth or jaw pain, visible holes in the tooth, or grey, brown and/or black spots.
Discolouration, which may impact self esteem.
How to keep ageing teeth and gums healthy
From an oral health point of view, there is little difference in the habits a person needs between younger adulthood and older. While an older person’s teeth may be more sensitive to problems due to wear and tear, techniques like regular brushing, flossing and the use of antibacterial mouthwash (as well as limiting consumption of substances that are bad for your teeth, i.e. sugar and tobacco) will all have a positive effect.
So for you as a carer, this makes life fairly simple - the habits you need for your own teeth are the same as your elderly relative’s.
Here are 8 tips for looking after an older-aged relative’s teeth
1. Develop an oral health plan with their dentist
Every person is different. While, generally, good brushing and flossing techniques are key, your relative may require help in a different or specific way.
What you’ll want is an oral health care plan, which you can build together with your relative and their dentist. This will lay out the foundation of how to care for your relative’s teeth, and will give you an opportunity to ask for specific advice and tips/tricks to do with the steps in that plan.
Learn more: Our prices here at Kowhai Dental
2. Sanitise and protect yourself before helping your relative
To help reduce the chance of a cross infection, you will need to sanitise yourself before touching your relative’s mouth.
Some steps to follow:
Wash your hands.
Wear disposable gloves if you want extra protection.
Put on safety glasses if you want to avoid splashes in your eye.
Wear an apron if you want to avoid splashes on your clothing.
3. Remove partial dentures
One question you might have is: Can you just brush around partial dentures or do they need to be removed?
We would recommend you remove them before trying to brush, as this will help you clean their natural teeth properly.
4. Use a fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that scientists around the world believe has beneficial oral health properties. Many store-bought toothpastes contain fluoride, so it’s easy to find! But you’ll want to make sure you do get one that contains the substance as fluoride’s protective qualities are highly beneficial for older people.
Concerned about fluoride? We know there’s a lot of competing information out there. So, we put together a little guide – “Busting the myths about fluoride in Northland’s water”.
5. Brush with a soft to medium toothbrush
Different toothbrushes have different levels of bristle stiffness. Harder bristles may be too much for an older mouth, especially one experiencing gum recession and sensitivity. So, look for a softer brush, or medium at most.
You can always experiment with both and see what your relative prefers!
For brushing technique itself, the techniques you use in your own mouth will work in theirs.
Hold the brush at a 45° angle to the gumline.
Brush in vibrating, side-to-side strokes.
Don’t just brush the fronts of the teeth, but the backs, chewing surfaces, and around behind the back molars.
Also, remember to brush their gumline and gently brush their tongue.
Some people find using an electric toothbrush easier for brushing another person’s teeth, as you just have to hold the brush in the right place and it does a lot of the work for you.
6. Make sure there’s somewhere to spit
If you can get your relative to a sink, this problem solves itself. But, for those with limited mobility or who must remain in bed, you’ll need to have somewhere for them to spit.
You’ll notice here we haven't said spit “and rinse”. It’s not recommended that a person rinses their mouth with water after brushing as this can wash all the fluoride out. All you need to do is clean the face if there’s any toothpaste on it, and make sure that your relative has spat out all that’s in their mouth already.
7. Don’t worry about bleeding at first
Minor bleeding of the gums is not necessarily a cause for concern after brushing, particularly if your relative isn’t used to having their teeth or gums cleaned regularly.
Indeed, one of the best ways to stop minor bleeding is to keep brushing normally, as it can build resilience in the gums.
If the bleeding doesn’t stop after a few days or you’re worried at all, perhaps it’s time to visit the dentist for their opinion – bleeding is also a symptom of gum disease, so we recognise why you might be worried.
Learn more: Bleeding gums
8. Encourage them to brush what they can
Depending on your relative’s mobility, they may be able to brush some of their own teeth themselves – or at least give it a good go. This should be encouraged, both to give your relative a sense of independence and accomplishment, and to cut down on the amount that you yourself will need to brush.
If they do struggle, you can fill in the gaps.
Need more help? Come and see us
Here at Kowhai Dental, we’re your local Whangarei experts when it comes to oral health. We’d be happy to talk to you and your older-aged relative to work out a dental plan that suits their needs, and to give you some more tips and tricks for looking after their mouth.
Give us a call on 09 430 0707, pop in to see us on Maunu Road, or book an appointment online.
Or, to read more about looking after older-aged teeth, the NZ Dental Association has a fabulous document that you can download. Check out their “Healthy Mouth = Healthy Ageing” guide here.