Recognizing Potential Dental Problems in Your Elder Loved One

Dental problems become increasingly common with age. As a family caregiver it is important to recognize that these problems go beyond just the potential for issues such as bad breath and tooth loss. Dental problems can also lead to serious consequences for your parent’s overall physical health, including infections, cardiovascular problems, and liver problems. The first step in helping your parent overcome potential dental problems is recognizing them as they develop.

Some signs that your aging parent might be suffering from potential dental problems include:

• Resisting certain foods. Watch your elder loved one as they are eating and take note if they resist eating certain foods. Not wanting to eat hot foods, cold foods, or hard foods might indicate that they are suffering from tooth pain that could be a sign of dental problems.

• Only chewing on one side of the mouth. While you are watching them eat, pay attention to how they are chewing. If they only chew on one side of their mouth, it could indicate that the other side of their mouth has a problem.

• Changes in their brushing or flossing habits. Pay attention as your parent is brushing and flossing their teeth. If they seem to not be applying much pressure, are avoiding certain areas of their mouth, or are not bringing the floss all the way to their gum line, it could be because they are suffering pain or other problems. Watch to make sure that there is no blood in the sink as they brush as this could indicate that your parent is suffering from gingivitis or other gum problems.

• Bad breath. Unpleasant breath is something that virtually everyone experiences, but if your parent is experiencing severely bad breath that does not improve with brushing or mouthwash, it could be a sign that they are dealing with serious dental health complications. Tooth decay, abscesses, tooth infections, gum disease, and bacteria can all contribute to serious bad breath, as can infections that occur throughout the body due to the bacteria in the mouth.

If your elder parent has been suffering from dental health problems or you are concerned about their dental hygiene, starting elder care for them may be the ideal solution. An elder home care services provider can be with your senior on a customized schedule to address their individual needs, challenges, and limitations and offer personalized services to help them maintain their best health, safety, and well-being as they age in place.

When it comes to helping them to manage dental problems and preserve better dental health, this care provider can help your parent understand the importance of proper dental hygiene, help them to create a dental hygiene routine that they can follow, and let you know about any signs of difficulties that they might notice so that you can take the proper steps to help them resolve these problems. This can help them to not only avoid pain and other uncomfortable symptoms, but potentially serious health complications and consequences as well.