Try to establish a regular and fixed dental routine, ensuring that all tooth
surfaces are cleaned, if possible, twice a day. Tremor and reduced
hand-to-mouth mobility can make accurate and thorough brushing more difficult
which may lead to increased decay. If you find it hard to clean all your teeth
thoroughly in one go, you may prefer to concentrate on one half of your mouth
in the morning and the other half at night. Clean systematically from one side
to the other and from front to back, remembering that each tooth has multiple
surfaces that must all be cleaned. Your carer can also help you with brushing and flossing.
Some people with Parkinson’s find it difficult to hold a toothbrush. Ways of
overcoming this include:
- slipping the brush into a
velcro sleeve which affixes to a strap on your hand
- cutting an opening in a
tennis ball and inserting the brush handle to give you something larger to
grip
- inserting the brush into a
bicycle handlebar grip - this can help prevent the brush slipping in your
hand.
Squeezing a tube of toothpaste can also be difficult and you may find it
easier to use a pump dispenser. Flossing too can be tricky and there are
special floss holders available to make it easier. Ask your dentist or dental
hygienist about different products you could try.
It is important to be mindful of the number of meals you eat during the day
- many people with Parkinson's are unable to eat three large meals a day, and
instead eat a number of smaller meals or snacks. Your mouth would usually use
the time between meals to ‘recover’, so greater care should be taken to keep
your mouth clean if you eat more regularly. If you eat throughout the day it is
not necessary to brush your teeth every time - too much rubbing is a risk for
the teeth - so instead you should rinse with water or mouthwash or chew special
gums.
Keeping your lips moist can help you to smile and speak more easily so you
may like to use lip balm if your lips feel dry.
