Many elderly individuals end up with either partial or full dentures in their later years to replace lost teeth. While the process of getting dentures can be uncomfortable, dentures can help someone eat their food better (and perhaps enjoy foods they haven’t enjoyed in a while), communicate more clearly, and oftentimes feel better about their appearance.
Getting dentures doesn’t mean a person no longer needs to worry about oral care. If your loved one has dentures, it’s still essential for him to clean and maintain them to keep his oral health in check and prevent possible future loss if he has partial dentures. As his caregiver, you may find yourself in a role where you now need to help with denture care but aren’t sure what needs to be done or how to keep them clean and in good shape.
Live-in home care providers offer a wide range of assistance for aging seniors, including personal and oral hygiene support.
Five Steps to Denture Care
If you are now responsible for assisting your loved one with his denture care, talk to his dentist personally first to learn about what specific needs your loved one may have. Also, consider live-in home care to be able to step in and assist when you can’t be there.
1. Removing
Dentures need to be removed every day and shouldn’t be slept in.
2. Soaking
Most dentures need to be soaked overnight to help them keep their shape, stay moist, and stay comfortable for your loved one. Leaving them out without soaking can cause them to dry out and lose their shape, making them uncomfortable during the day. Soak them in water or a denture solution and follow instructions on the best care. If you choose to use a denture solution, make sure they are rinsed well before your loved one places them back in his mouth to wash off any of the chemical solutions.
3. Brushing
Your loved one still needs to have a toothbrush in the bathroom to use. Dentures should be brushed daily to remove food particles and bacteria that may build up. If dental adhesive is used to keep them in place, all of them should be brushed off each night before they are soaked.
4. Rinsing
Dentures can make it possible for your loved one to enjoy foods like nuts, popcorn, and meat once again, but in order to prevent some of those foods from getting stuck either in or under the dentures, he should rinse them off after each meal to keep them clean and his mouth comfortable.
5. Caring for the rest of the mouth
Your loved one still needs to care for the rest of his mouth and should use a gentle toothbrush to clean his tongue and gums after taking out his dentures.
Live-In Home Care Can Help with Denture Care
If your loved one needs more supervision or assistance with caring for his dentures, having a live-in home care provider help him care for them may be the perfect solution for keeping his dentures in great shape and his mouth healthy. A live-in home care provider can assist with daily cleaning tasks and provide reminders before bed and when he wakes up.
A live-in home care provider will also help set up regular dentist appointments as needed and provide an extra set of eyes on your loved one’s mouth to observe if dental any issues need to be addressed right away.
Amelia Home Care provides traditional Live-In Home Care in Bronx, NY, along with virtual caregiving and remote patient monitoring. Our service area includes Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Westchester County. Call today at (929) 333-3955
We proudly provide non-medical home care services to individuals with disabilities, injuries, difficulties with mobility, or illnesses. Our team is composed of highly trained and competent staff members who are dedicated and experts in delivering home care services in the comfort of our client’s home.
Through our personalized care plan, we can give you the needed care services that are all intended to cater to your unique personal and health needs. With us, we ensure around-the-clock services and supervision to help you achieve optimum health and wellness.
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