Brushing teeth seems like the most natural thing for many of us because it’s something we do dSaily upon waking and before going to sleep. Some even brush their teeth after every meal. It’s a habit we’ve formed for ourselves.
We don’t even think of the dentist until something’s wrong and there’s pain. By that time, we’d need some sort of intervention and possibly medication too. To avoid this, we must always remember that saying: prevention is better than cure. This is especially so when you have loved ones who cannot do oral hygiene on their own.
No matter a person’s age, ability or disability, oral hygiene is important because toothache, gum disease and other dental problems can drive you nuts. You won’t be able to go about your day as you normally would. So imagine when it’s a loved one who can’t tell you what’s wrong. You’d have to guess the problem. Some of the signs to look out for would be bad breath and excessive drooling. Be aware of mood changes too. No one is ever happy when they have a toothache.
When my son Omar – who’s non-verbal and is physically and mentally-challenged – had a toothache, he kept tapping his cheek and moaned. He also drooled excessively, refused food and hardly drank, which is totally unusual for him. Although he didn’t have a fever, he was really out of sorts and miserable.
Fortunately Omar has been registered for special needs dental care at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and has been going there for regular check-ups. He’d been going to the dentist for special needs ever since he was a child. As he grew up, he was transferred from the paediatric team to the adult team. So when I called them for an appointment, they promptly gave us a slot because this was considered an emergency.
As it turned out, Omar had abscess inside the gum of his front tooth, which we couldn’t see because he hadn’t allowed us to touch his lip, let alone brush his teeth. He was given medication to let the swelling and pus subside and was scheduled for extraction under general anaesthesia the following week. Everything went according to plan and Omar’s problem was solved.
IMPORTANCE OF DENTAL CARE
Through years of diligent dental care, problems can still occur. You could chip it after biting into something really hard or you could have cavities. Dental care can begin as early as in infancy when your baby has started on solid food. They may not have teeth yet, but their gums would get itchy when teeth start to cut through from the age of six months onwards.
You wouldn’t use a regular baby toothbrush for this but there are special ones made without bristle. Alternatively, just wrap a soft cloth around your finger to gently rub on the gums.
This technique is especially good for children with special needs and even elderly adults who can’t tolerate even the softest toothbrush. You can use special toothpaste that’s non-toxic should they swallow some. Rinsing their mouth is always a problem because they can’t move their lips and tongue to spit it out. It’s the same if you’ve ever had mouth-numbing injection for a dental procedure. You think you can spit into the bowl but instead end up with water drooling down your chin.
FEELING GOOD
Oral hygiene – brushing and flossing – for the your loved ones in your care can be tricky if they’re not cooperative. It takes planning, time and persuasion before it can become a routine because you have to manage with physical, mental and behavioural problems. There’d be days when you need to abandon any attempts and try again later.
We always think that the bathroom is the only place to brush teeth because that’s where most of us do it. But it doesn’t always have to be, especially if your bathroom isn’t roomy enough for two people.
You can do your daily brushing for your loved one at a table, whether it’s in the kitchen, dining or bedroom. The room should be bright enough for you to see inside the person’s mouth, especially to floss.
Always prepare your tray first – water in a non-breakable drinking cup, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and small towel and/or tissue paper. Talk through what you’re going to do. It always helps if they know what to expect.
If the person is easily agitated, give them something to hold on to and play some calming music. You could also distract them and ease their anxiety by talking to them in a soothing tone.
To rinse off after brushing teeth, give your loved one a drink of water. Alternatively, wipe off the toothpaste residue by sweeping the mouth with a wet towel or gauze. It helps if you set this up as a routine, like at the same time every day or after certain meals. A healthy mouth and a good set of teeth help people eat well and feel good about themselves.
Putri Juneita Johari volunteers for the Special Children Society of Ampang. She can be reached at juneitajohari@yahoo.com.