Tips for Providing Dental Care for Patients With Alzheimer’s

If you are the caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it’s essential to try and help them maintain a daily oral care routine. It’s also critical that they receive regular cleanings and exams from a dentist.

As your parents or other loved ones get older, more and more challenges arise when it comes to having proper oral health care. If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dental care becomes even more difficult. However, everyone deserves to receive the best oral care because it’s essential to their overall health and wellbeing.

The Dental Anesthesia Center’s goal is to educate our patients, and their caregivers on how to help those with Alzheimer’s have the best dental health. For more than 30 years, we have helped patients with special needs get the proper dental care, and we can help your loved ones too.

Dental Issues for Patients with Alzheimer’s

There are many dental health issues for those with Alzheimer’s. They may forget to brush their teeth or forget how to use their toothbrush and toothpaste. If they are experiencing mouth pain, it can be much harder to detect their discomfort.

Some of the most common dental issues patients with Alzheimer’s patient’s experience include:

• Broken teeth – Broken teeth can be minor or severe but should be addressed either way quickly. If ignored, broken teeth can cause painful mouth infections or other health issues.
• Cavities – When dental care is neglected, the build-up of bacteria will eventually cause cavities.
• Dry mouth – Dry mouth is a prevalent symptom of patients with Alzheimer’s. It can lead to mouth sores, ulcers, and cavities when left untreated.
• Abscessed teeth – A tooth abscess is an infection inside the tooth that can spread to the gums. It can be excruciating and can spread quickly, causing further serious infections.
• Bad breath – Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth, infections, poor dental hygiene, medications, and certain foods.

If you are the caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it’s essential to try and help them maintain a daily oral care routine. It’s also critical that they receive regular cleanings and exams from a dentist.

Ensuring a Successful Dental Visit

For a patient with Alzheimer’s, visiting the dentist can often be an overwhelming and challenging experience. This is why your dentist should work together with you and your loved one to ensure a successful visit.

Some tips for a successful trip to the dentist include:

• Determine the best time of day and schedule their appointment accordingly.
• Make sure they empty their bladder before the appointment.
• Maintain a private and quiet environment during their visit.
• Keep the appointment length to a minimum, no longer than 45 minutes if possible.

Tips for Caregivers

There is no doubt that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a very challenging and heartbreaking job. One of the best ways to help them with their oral health is by regularly taking them to the dentist. One of the main benefits is that your dentist can help detect any issues before they become significant problems. The dentist can help them take preventative dental care measures at home. This can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease, or other infections.

The Dental Anesthesia Center Can Help!

If your loved one has Alzheimer’s, we can help you help them maintain a healthy mouth. We welcome Alzheimer’s patients and all other special needs patients. We are a state-of-the-art anesthesia and dental facility. Dr. Michael J. Hoffmann and Dr. Sean M. Thoms provide dental services accompanied by Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia. Dr. Victoria Behl offers oral sedation as well as non-sedation services.