Steps to Effective Oral Care

The goal of oral care is to prevent dental disease. The prevention of dental disease can also assist in the prevention of other diseases. So good oral health is a win win!

In order to prevent dental disease, the bacteria that cause things like tooth decay (cavities), gingivitis (gum disease) and periodontal disease (loss of bone around the teeth) need to be controlled. Typically, these bacteria are controlled through brushing the teeth and cleaning between the teeth at least once per day. If a person is not able to complete these tasks, it becomes important to utilize oral health products to assist in controlling the bacteria.

Follow these simple steps to effective oral care with those you assist:

Clean between the teeth
Using a brush designed to get between the teeth is best for cleaning between the teeth of another person. Those with a longer handle are easier to use. Place brush in between teeth that are next to each other. Move in and out 1-2 times. Move onto the next space. You can use floss instead of a brush, but floss is typically more difficult to use.
Toothpaste
If the person you are assisting with oral care can tolerate toothpaste, feel free to place a “pea” size drop of toothpaste on a soft bristle brush before brushing. If the person cannot tolerate toothpaste, it is perfectly ok to brush without toothpaste! Brushing without toothpaste may actually be more effective than brushing with toothpaste, in this case.
Toothbrush
Using a soft bristle tooth brush, try to brush the teeth for 2 minutes. Do not worry about how to angle the brush. Simply get it into the mouth, on the teeth and move it around. If you are unable to brush for 2 minutes, it’s ok. Just brush for as long as you can.
Rinsing
If you have used toothpaste, and the person can swish and spit, offer them to do so. You can place a small amount of water in a disposable cup, have them swish with that and then spit into another cup, which is empty. If the person cannot swish and spit, it is ok to leave the toothpaste in the mouth. You only used a pea size, so there is no harm if the person swallows it. And if the toothpaste has fluoride in it, the fluoride will help the teeth if it isn’t rinsed out!
Products that help control oral bacteria
If brushing and between the teeth cleaning is not possible, it is essential that the oral bacteria is controlled in some other fashion. Products that are 100% sweetened with a natural sugar called Xylitol, can provide bacterial control. Xylitol is added to many products like gum, mints, toothpaste, mouthwash, mouth sprays, gels and can even be added to water. Getting xylitol into the mouth 5 times per day in some fashion will control the bacteria that cause dental disease.