Ed’s Story

Ed’s inability to move on his own, bathe himself, or dress himself landed him in a nursing home at age 80. Though he did the best he could to take care of his mouth, his condition affected his hands and he was not able to brush effectively. Ed may have traveled down the same path as Gladys, Ida, and Helen, if it were not for a hygienist providing weekly oral care and Xylitol.

Weekly oral care visits were enjoyable for Ed and the hygienist. They visited, flossed and brushed, and managed to give each other a hard time now and again. Before long, Ed’s gums were healthy and they remained healthy. So did his teeth. His gums did not bleed and the plaque on his teeth was very minimal. During the time Ed was receiving oral care services, he was free of dental disease, did not require any treatment from a dentist, and never needed emergency dental care. As Ed’s condition deteriorated, the hygienist was present to provide comfort care for his mouth. And while Ed did move on from this world, he did not die from dirty teeth.

George’s Story

George was stricken by Alzheimer’s and was placed in the care of a medical team in a memory unit. His wife understood how important George’s oral health had been to him throughout his life. She realized he required more help with his oral care than the care team was able to provide. A HyLife Oral Care Specialist (OCS) was hired to provide oral care services for George. During two years of these services, George has had no cavities. He did however break several teeth, which the OCS was able to facilitate the repair of at a local dental office. The OCS went so far as to accompany George and his wife to the dental visits. She was able to communicate George’s needs to the dental team. Even though his physical and mental conditions continued to deteriorate, he never had pneumonia or the need to be hospitalized. Even though George was unable to speak, he did manage to say, “Thank you” to the OCS after she brushed and flossed his teeth one day. This incidence brought tears to the eyes of the nurse who witnessed his words.