Brushing your senior’s teeth for her is something you might need to start doing, but what’s the easiest way to do it? These steps can help you and your elderly family member to get more comfortable with this necessary task.
Make sure you’ve got what you need before you get rolling with the task of brushing your senior’s teeth. If she has to stand there and wait for you, she’s more likely to get tired, bored, or anxious and bolt before you can get the job done. Preparing ahead of time means that you’re ready to go when you get your senior right there with you.
Ideally, it’s best for you to stand beside your senior, on her dominant side, because that’s the hand she’s likely going to use to brush her teeth. If she’s sitting, make sure that you’re sitting or standing close to her so that you can easily reach. It’s important that you’re both comfortable during this process.
Once you’ve got toothpaste on the brush, have your senior hold the toothbrush in her dominant hand and place your hand over hers. The idea is that she’s mostly in control of the toothbrush, but you’re there to help her and to guide her as she brushes. If she stops or has difficulty, you can help her to get started again.
Your job while helping her to brush isn’t so much about taking over. It’s about directing her actions and making sure that she’s able to finish the job. This can feel a little weird for both of you the first few times you try it. With practice, it can get easier, but that doesn’t always happen.
In fact, many family caregivers and seniors have trouble with personal care tasks. If that’s the case for you and your senior, then having a caregiver come in and help with brushing teeth, bathing, and getting dressed might be a little easier on you both. Talk to your senior about what is most likely to work for her.
Not brushing her teeth isn’t an option for your senior, though. That can lead to tooth decay and cause her to have trouble eating, which brings up a whole range of other problems.
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