By Meghan McGowan
Read Time: 4 mins.
Oral health has profound impacts on overall wellness. This is particularly the case for long-term care patients, who are often especially vulnerable. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted understanding of both dental health and care workflows.
Dynarex dental care products support regular oral hygiene across care environments.
What Happens When Patients Don’t Get Proper Oral Care?
The consequences for long-term care patients who don’t receive regular oral care go far beyond cavities. When the mouth isn’t cared for, patients can develop tooth decay and gum disease. These conditions can lead to discomfort, pain, and loss of teeth, and can also influence diet. Long-term care patients often eat less or refuse to eat when experiencing tooth and mouth pain.
One major concern is the buildup of dental plaque, also known as biofilm. This sticky layer contains a high concentration of germs and microorganisms. All mouths accumulate biofilm, and regularly brushing the teeth removes it. In cases where patients don’t receive regular oral care, biofilm builds up in the mouth. Patients can breathe in the germs of this buildup, increasing their risk of pneumonia. However, brushing teeth twice daily or more has been shown to reduce the chances of developing pneumonia, as well as reducing severity if pneumonia does develop.
Easier Said Than Done: Dental Hygiene for Long-Term Care Patients
Long-term care facilities are frequently understaffed, often leaving caregivers stretched too thin over a large numbers of patients. Additionally, team members in long-term care environments face patient challenges that can make daily oral care difficult to carry out safely and consistently.
- Patient Dysphagia: Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can arise from strokes, neurological disorders like Parkinson’s, and other issues common in long-term care. It can cause severe risk of choking, making daily toothbrushing dangerous and complicated.
- Muscular Control: Painful jaw joints, weak muscles, or neurological conditions can cause patients to clench their teeth, or keep them from holding their own mouths open.
- Cognitive Challenges: Many patients in long-term care deal with cognitive disorders that can leave them confused or agitated. Patients in this state often refuse oral care or physically resist, creating risk for themselves and their caregivers.
Working Smarter: Making Dental Hygiene Easier for Caregivers
Cooperation is a requirement in maintaining oral health. Staff-wide training on the warning signs of oral disease can help, including:
- Pain in the mouth and face
- Bleeding or swollen gums
- Loose or missing teeth
- Red or white patches on the inner surfaces of the mouth
- Mouth sores that don’t heal
- Persistent bad breath
When patients face dental care challenges, caregivers can use a variety of techniques to help maintain oral hygiene.
- Dysphagia Techniques: When cleaning the teeth of patients with difficulty swallowing, using small amounts of toothpaste and stopping frequently to clear saliva are key strategies. Suction tools can help to keep the mouth clear, and oral swabs provide a convenient solution for cleaning the mouth without introducing excess fluid.
- Props: To make teeth brushing easier for patients with muscular conditions, caregivers may use a dental prop — a small wedge-shaped device placed between the back teeth to keep the jaw slightly open — or use the handle of a second toothbrush to hold the mouth open.
- Cooperative Techniques: Many different methods can help caregivers brush the teeth of agitated patients.
- Modeling: Caregivers brush or pretend to brush their own teeth alongside a patient to encourage imitation.
- Distraction: Music or conversation can help redirect attention and reduce agitation during brushing.
- Timing: Brushing earlier in the day may be easier for patients who become more agitated at night.
It Starts with a Smile: Improving Quality of Life with Oral Care
Oral health plays a major role in a patient’s overall wellbeing, and maintaining it is no small task. Teamwork is essential to keep the mouths of long-term care patients in good condition. With the right strategies and cooperation, maintaining proper oral care for patients can greatly improve their quality of life overall.
Explore Dynarex dental care products today!