The general advice from dentists is that flossing is an important part of our dental care. Flossing can reach areas of the teeth that regular brushing cannot, helping to remove plaque, prevent decay, and prevent gum disease. Unfortunately, many people do not like to floss for various reasons. Maybe your elderly loved one is one of those people.
Why Flossing is Sometimes Avoided
It’s not that your loved one doesn’t care about his teeth. It’s more likely that there are other reasons why he has decided not to floss. It could be that he struggles to hold and control the floss because of pain or stiffness in his wrists and fingers. Another cause might be that he cannot see well enough to floss those back teeth. If he already has gum disease, his gums may be sensitive and flossing is painful, making him avoid it completely.
Flossing Alternative for Seniors
The good news is that there are options for flossing that will help your aging loved one keep his teeth and gums healthy while not having to floss in the traditional sense. Here are a few options to discuss with his dentist to see if they can work for him.
- Mouthwash with Fluoride
Swishing around mouthwash that has fluoride in it for at least 30 seconds can do a lot to remove food particles that have found their way into the crevasses between teeth. It can also do a great job of removing plaque and bacteria that cause bad breath.
- Dry Brushing
Before your loved one puts that toothpaste on his brush, have him do some dry brushing first. Using a completely dry toothbrush around the teeth in a circular motion can help remove food particles and bacteria. The brush should have soft bristles to reduce the risk of irritating the gums.
- Water Flossers or Oral Irrigators
These devices will spray a concentrated stream of water wherever you point them so you can use them to get between teeth to clear out anything that may be hiding in there. They’re easy to use for most people but if your loved one has arthritis or any other conditions that make using his hands painful, they may be too difficult to hold.
- Dental Picks
These are a great option when your loved one cannot hold the dental floss string. They are a small pick that has a small piece of gauze at the end and be used to probe between teeth to gather up any debris stuck in those areas. They often work great on people with larger gaps between their teeth due to gum disease or tooth loss.
Personal Care at Home Dental Care
All of these are great options for your senior but if he’s still not flossing and caring for his teeth as he should, having a personal care at home provider help with dental care might be the solution you’re looking for. A personal care at home provider can help him with all of his dental care which may include flossing in addition to brushing and even denture care if needed. Knowing someone is there to assist and remind him to take care of his teeth may be just the extra little help he needs to keep his teeth strong and healthy.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Personal Care in Plano, TX, please contact the caring staff at Arcy Healthcare today at (469) 293-1515
Providing In-Home Healthcare Services in North Texas, including Dallas, Hurst, Grapevine, Keller, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Gainesville, and more.
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, MaximaCare Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (MaximaCare Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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