Pocket Guide to Mouth and Dental Hygiene in Dementia Care: Guidance for Maintaining Good Oral Health

Dental needs of people living with dementia are often overlooked, and poor care can increase fear and anxiety. This pocket guide provides tailored advice for supporting their oral and dental needs, including preventative mouth care, spotting symptoms, and what to do when problems occur. It is useful for dentists, care home staff, nurses, and other health professionals.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 19 November 2020
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Dental needs of people living with dementia are often overlooked, particularly in the care home and hospital community. Maintaining good standards of oral care with people living with dementia is challenging, and poor care can increase the fear and anxiety levels of those living with dementia. Few dentists have the training that equips them with the specialist knowledge necessary to work with this population.

This pocket guide provides tailored advice for supporting the oral and dental needs of people living with dementia. It offers straightforward models for providing effective preventative mouth care, spotting symptoms, and what to do when problems occur. This concise handbook is designed to help dentists, care home staff, nurses, and other health professionals working daily with people with dementia.

Providing oral care to people living with dementia can be challenging, but it is essential for maintaining their overall health and well-being. This pocket guide offers practical tips and strategies for dentists, care home staff, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that people living with dementia receive the best possible oral care. By following these guidelines, you can help to reduce the risk of dental problems, promote oral health, and improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia.

Oral health is an important aspect of overall health, and people living with dementia are no exception. Poor oral health can lead to a range of oral health problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, and mouth infections. These problems can be difficult to manage and can have a significant impact on the quality of life of individuals with dementia.

One of the challenges of providing oral care to people living with dementia is that they may have difficulty communicating their symptoms or needs. This can make it difficult for healthcare professionals to identify and address oral health problems early. Additionally, people living with dementia may have physical limitations that make it difficult for them to access dental care, such as mobility issues or difficulty swallowing.

To address these challenges, healthcare professionals should work closely with people living with dementia and their families to develop a personalized oral care plan. This plan should include regular dental check-ups, preventative care, and treatment of any oral health problems that arise. It is also important to provide education and support to families and caregivers to help them understand the importance of oral health and how to care for their loved ones.

In addition to regular dental check-ups, preventative care is an important aspect of oral health for people living with dementia. This includes regular brushing and flossing, as well as mouthwash and dental sealants. Regular dental check-ups can help to identify and treat oral health problems early, before they become more serious.

Dental sealants are a particularly effective preventative measure for people living with dementia. Dental sealants are a thin coating that is applied to the teeth to protect them from decay. They are painless and can last for several years, providing long-term protection against tooth decay.

In addition to preventative care, treatment of oral health problems is also important for people living with dementia. This may include fillings, root canals, and tooth extractions. Treatment of oral health problems can help to improve the quality of life of individuals with dementia by reducing pain and discomfort and improving their ability to eat and speak.

However, treatment of oral health problems can be challenging for people living with dementia. They may have difficulty sitting still for long periods, may have difficulty understanding instructions, and may have memory problems that make it difficult to remember what happened during a dental visit.

To address these challenges, healthcare professionals should work closely with people living with dementia and their families to develop a personalized treatment plan. This plan should include clear instructions for caregivers and family members, as well as strategies for managing any behavioral issues that may arise during treatment. It is also important to provide support and education to families and caregivers to help them understand the treatment process and how to best support their loved ones.

In conclusion, dental needs of people living with dementia are often overlooked, particularly in the care home and hospital community. Maintaining good standards of oral care with people living with dementia is challenging, and poor care can increase the fear and anxiety levels of those living with dementia. This pocket guide provides tailored advice for supporting the oral and dental needs of people living with dementia. By following these guidelines, healthcare professionals can help to reduce the risk of dental problems, promote oral health, and improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia.

Weight: 130g
Dimension: 130 x 196 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787751309