Promoting Good Dental Hygiene in Seniors

Edmonton Senior Health  |  April 9, 2018

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB, Needs to Know About Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene in Seniors | April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Here is some information for senior citizens on common dental concerns such as oral cancer and tips to achieve healthy teeth and gums.

Comfort Keepers Caregivers are aware of these provisions and assist in maintaining dental hygiene as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

April is #OralCancerAwareness Month

Senior Dental Concerns 

While there are many dental concerns for people of all ages, the most common issues related to older age include:

• darkened teeth
• dry mouth
• loss of the sense of taste
• gum disease
• losing or lost teeth
• root decay
• uneven jawbones

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is a serious dental concern that can occur anywhere in the mouth or throat. Luckily, oral cancer is preventable with good oral hygiene. In addition to standard good habits like daily brushing and flossing, seniors must visit the dentist and receive oral examinations regularly.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer Include:

• • white or red patches in the mouth
  • lumps
  • sores
  • irritations in the mouth or on the lips or throat
  • difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • swelling of the mouth or jaw

What to Expect at an Oral Examination

During an oral exam, seniors can expect a dental cleaning, during which a dental hygienist will remove built-up plaque and tartar, brush the teeth with a high-powered toothbrush, and floss the teeth in all areas, including hard-to-reach sections. A hygienist can also provide older adults and seniors with good oral hygiene advice.

After cleaning, a dentist will perform the oral exam. The dentist will ask questions about changes in the mouth, tooth sensitivity or looseness, difficulty swallowing or chewing, and will also examine any lumps, bumps, swelling, pain, or discomfort in the mouth.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is Proud to Offer a Wide Range of Home Senior Care Services

Our trained caregivers will ensure your loved one is comfortable, independent and safe in their home. On top of that, we will also aim to enhance their overall health, quality of life and general happiness. 

Top-Notch Home Healthcare for Seniors in Edmonton, Alberta

Comfort Keepers of Edmonton offers a broader range of senior care services. We offer retirement care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, and senior living transition services. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can provide 24-hour care and more!

Helping Seniors Age-in-Place with Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs. Our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind, empathy. We strive to stimulate our clients emotionally, mentally and socially, thus enhancing their overall quality of life. 

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The system increases seniors’ sense of well-being, independence and companionship by focusing on Senior Mind, Senior Body, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Safety.

Affordable and Client-Directed Homecare is Available for Qualifying Albertans

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. 

What is the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI)?

CDHCI is a great program provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS), allowing clients to choose an approved agency like Comfort Keepers Edmonton for Personal Care, Respite Care and Homemaking needs. The chosen agency can then bill AHS directly for services rendered for approved hours through Alberta Blue Cross. Read more about the program HERE.

Accredited Home Care Edmonton

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. This honour demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton, AB.

To learn more about senior in-home care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office. Our service territory includes Edmonton, Devon, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office at 780-465-4665.

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