Oral

Proper oral health care is important in every stage of a person’s life. You only have one set of permanent teeth, so you need to keep them healthy. This means brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash. As people grow older, it becomes harder for them to perform or remember to do daily activities. The staff members of nursing homes take on that responsibility. They should aid elder adults in keeping up with their personal hygiene so they are healthy and clean. But, sometimes the staff neglects to keep up with personal hygiene such as oral care. When this happens, your loved one can experience pain and dental complications. To prevent these issues, you can learn about proper oral care here. Learn what to do if a home does not provide oral health care for your loved one here.

Proper Care

Everyone knows the proper way to take care of their teeth and gums. Proper oral care includes brushing teeth twice a day, flossing every day, and using mouthwash every day. If your loved one can no longer perform these tasks, a nursing home staff member should provide help. It is not enough for a nursing home staff member to assist your loved one with oral care. They also have to make sure that it happens correctly. This means brushing teeth thoroughly, reaching the gums, and not brushing too hard.

Likewise, flossing should not be performed too roughly. A staff member should always wash their hands and wear gloves when helping your loved one with oral care. Staff should communicate with your loved one about pain or areas of oral care that might get neglected.

Common Problems

Unfortunately, nursing homes sometimes have staffing issues. This can cause residents to experience neglect. If the staff members fail to provide and assist proper oral care to all residents problems can arise. Common problems include:

• Gum disease.
• Heart disease.
• Ulcerative colitis.
• Lupus.
• Cavities.
• Gum Recession.
• Infections that could result in death.
• Tooth decay.
• Severe pain.
• Trouble chewing or inability to eat food.

Additional Issues

Some gum diseases left untreated may lead to other diseases and sometimes death. It is important for staff members to make sure that proper oral care is provided for each resident. When visiting your loved one in a nursing home, check on their oral health. Ask the nursing home staff about their oral care schedules or ask your loved one about their oral care. If your loved one needs oral care help, this should be outlined in your loved one’s care plan. Anyone working with your loved one on a regular basis should know about it.

Oral infections can be painful. It is important to make sure that your loved one’s oral health is not neglected to avoid this pain. If you suspect that your elder is suffering from oral care neglect and abuse, remove them from the home. Your loved one could get compensation if their oral care got neglected by a caretaker.