Dental health promotion in the nursing home
Surely you have heard that as an older person it can be difficult to maintain proper dental care. In general, this topic is very difficult for many older people, because not only in their own home can daily dental care become a real challenge. In a nursing home, it can be even more complicated, as residents are almost all dependent on help. In today's blog post, we explain why dental health promotion is so important, especially in nursing homes.
Why is dental care so important in old age?
As you already know, poor dental hygiene can lead to a variety of health problems. These include, first and foremost, tooth decay, periodontitis and bad breath. This can lead to pain and discomfort for those affected, as well as affecting their general well-being. In the worst cases, it can even affect overall health and shorten life expectancy.
Another challenge is that many nursing home residents already have limited physical and mental abilities, which makes dental care more difficult on top of their actual age. They may also have difficulty brushing and caring for their teeth properly and it can be difficult to motivate them to take care of their dental health regularly.
How you can improve dental health promotion in the care home
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take as a care home worker or close relative to improve dental health promotion for people in need of care. Here are some tips:
- Create a dental care plan: Create an individual dental care plan that indicates how often teeth should be brushed and cared for and who is responsible for supporting this.
- Create an appealing environment: Make sure the dental care area is clean and inviting. Provide our emmi®-dent ultrasonic toothbrush, toothpaste and some floss. Also make sure that the brush heads are replaced regularly.
- Support where you can: Help people in need of care to brush their teeth properly as much as possible. Often you can help them by showing them how to do it and demonstrating it over and over again. Some older people or care home residents may also need special aids such as floss holders or toothbrush head cleaners.
- Motivation: In general, try to motivate older people to take care of their teeth regularly. For example, you can offer rewards for regular dental care or organise a dental care competition among several older people.
Why dental health promotion is important for the elderly and in the nursing home
It is important to emphasise that dental health promotion in nursing homes and for older people is not only important for them, but also for the caregivers. Good and regular dental care can help residents to be healthy and happy for longer.
In summary, dental health promotion in the care home and older people in general is of very great importance to improve the health and well-being of residents. As a care home worker or carer, you have the opportunity to massively improve the dental care of older people through targeted interventions and thereby make an important contribution to their health and happiness.