By Nicole Levison

It takes a bit more effort to keep teeth and gums healthy as we age. After a lifetime exposure to sweets and snacks, soda, and other abrasive foods and drink, and just by the very fact that our gums age, we may experience gum tissue recession. Dry mouth brought on by age and illness can cause damage to teeth and gums as well since saliva is a necessary ingredient for a healthy mouth.  That’s why proper dental care is even more important as we age.

How’s this for some blunt advice from a dentist? “Floss the ones you want to keep.” Indeed, flossing and brushing after meals and before bed is crucial. For folks who find it difficult to handle dental tools, there are a number of ways to adapt:

• Enlarge a toothbrush handle by wrapping it with tape or inserting it into a rubber ball or a bicycle grip handle.
• Elongate the handle by taping some sort of sticks (a couple of tongue depressors, ice cream sticks, or small plastic or wooden rulers) to it.
• Consult with your dentist about investing in a battery-operated toothbrush (easier for some people to manage) and other specialty products.
• Consider a floss holder or aid (ask your dentist or your pharmacist about these handy tools). There are also battery-operated flossers available.

If you are responsible for someone else’s oral hygiene, remember:

• Visit a dental professional regularly. It is recommended that an elderly person who relies on others to clean his/her teeth visit a dentist twice as often as normal. That means up to 4 times a year—and some home health aides suggest five or six times a year. Why? As a caregiver, you may potentially miss spots that a professional can more thoroughly address. Over a few months, these spots can build into plaque and cause teeth and gum erosion.
• Brush the tongue. It harbors much of the bacteria that can cause dental problems.
• Stand behind your loved one to brush, but floss from the front. For brushing, it’s easier to comfortably prop your loved one on the couch while you stand behind him and gently tilt his or her head back on some pillows. Flossing requires you to maneuver to the side, front, and over your loved one. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist for some handy tips on cleaning someone else’s teeth.
• Combine a ¼ teaspoon each of salt and baking soda with warm water, swish, and then spit for cleansing in between meals or in between brushings.
• Use gauze or a washcloth to clean someone’s gums (whether or not they wear dentures). Always remove partials and dentures and cleanse them separately and daily.
• Protect your hands. If a bite reflex exists, there are soft props that can be gently inserted into the mouth. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist for more information.
• Communicate clearly. If a person suffers dementia, visiting the dentist can be upsetting, so a caregiver needs to clearly communicate the purpose of the appointment, schedule it for a time of the day when your loved one might be most alert.
• Ask for a house call. If your care recipient requires extra assistance, some dentists or aides make house calls or will send a shuttle for your convenience! Share any special needs you may have when you make the appointment.

And as a general healthy guideline, have your loved one try to eat a well-balanced, low-sugar diet, and drink lots of water.