- Material needed to brush your teeth
- 4 steps to brush a bedridden person's teeth
- How to Clean the Denture of a Bedridden Person
Brushing the teeth of a bedridden person and knowing the correct technique for doing so, in addition to facilitating the caregiver's work, is also very important to prevent the development of cavities and other mouth problems that can cause bleeding gums and worsen the general condition of the patient.
It is advisable to brush your teeth after each meal and after using oral remedies, such as pills or syrups, for example, as food and some medications facilitate the development of bacteria in the mouth. However, the recommended minimum is to brush your teeth in the morning and at night. In addition, a soft bristle brush should be used to avoid damaging the bedridden person's gums.
It only takes one person to brush the teeth of the bedridden person, however, if the patient is able to brush his teeth, he should be allowed to do as much as possible giving only the necessary support to make him feel comfortable.
Watch the video to learn how to brush a bedridden person's teeth:
Material needed to brush your teeth
The material needed to brush a bedridden person's teeth includes:
- 1 soft bristle brush; 1 toothpaste suitable for the patient; 1 empty bowl; 1 small towel.
If the patient does not have all the teeth or has a prosthesis that is not fixed, it may also be necessary to use a spatula with a sponge on the tip, or compresses, to replace the brush to clean the gums and cheeks, without hurting.
In addition, dental floss can also be used to remove larger residues before brushing teeth, allowing for more complete oral hygiene.
4 steps to brush a bedridden person's teeth
Before starting the technique for brushing the bedridden person's teeth, the patient should be seated on the bed or lift the back with a pillow to avoid the risk of choking on the toothpaste or saliva.
1. Place the towel over the patient's chest and the empty bowl on his lap, so that the person can throw the paste away if necessary.
2. Apply about 1 cm of toothpaste on the brush, which corresponds to the size of the little finger nail.
3. Wash the patient's teeth on the outside, inside and on top, not forgetting to clean the cheeks and tongue.
4. Ask the patient to spit out excess toothpaste into the pelvis. However, even if the person swallows the excess paste, there is no problem whatsoever.
In cases where the patient is unable to spit or has no teeth, the brushing technique should be performed by replacing the brush with a spatula with a sponge on the tip and the toothpaste with a little mouthwash, such as Cepacol or Listerine, mixed in 1 glass of water.
How to Clean the Denture of a Bedridden Person
To brush the teeth of a person bedridden with dentures, the denture must be removed from the patient's mouth and washed with a stiff bristle brush and toothpaste to remove all dirt. Then the denture should be rinsed with clean water and put back in the patient's mouth.
However, you should never forget to clean the patient's gums and cheeks with a spatula, with a soft sponge on the tip, and a little mouthwash diluted in 1 glass of water, before putting the prosthesis back in the patient's mouth.
During the night, if it is necessary to remove the denture, it should be placed in a glass with clean water without adding any type of cleaning product or alcohol. The water must be changed every day to avoid the accumulation of microorganisms that can infect the dentures and cause problems in the mouth. Learn more about how to care for dentures.
If you are caring for a bedridden person, here's how to do other important cares:
