Good oral health is an important part of every person’s total health. A clean, healthy mouth can help a person look and feel better about themselves.
Poor oral health may result in pain, a change in behaviour, broken sleep, difficulty eating and other health issues.
Helping someone brush their teeth is important. Every person is different and many ideas are suggested in this booklet. Some of them may help improve the dental health of the person that you care for.
Remember, it’s ok not to do a perfect job. The most important thing is that you try.
To help someone brush their teeth, you will need:
Let’s get started.
Stop: If the toothbrushing routine isn’t working for any reason. Try and work out what the problem might be and see if it can be overcome. Do not force toothbrushing if the person is not ready to progress.
Encourage the person to try to relax their lips and cheeks. This might be best achieved by asking the person to have a swallow and give you a big smile. Introduce the toothbrush at the corner of their mouth.
The person’s lips and cheeks can be gently pulled back, to allow you to see their teeth.
Say which teeth you are brushing. For example, you might say: ‘I am starting with your back teeth. I’ll brush the top teeth, starting inside and then the outside’.
If you are using an electric toothbrush, simply place the head of the toothbrush on the gum line and move the toothbrush around the mouth to make sure all surfaces of the teeth are reached.
Be sure to brush all surfaces: top and bottom, left and right, front and back.
Brush in the morning and at night before going to bed.
Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on a soft toothbrush.
Brush on the outside of the teeth using a circular motion. Start on one side and go all the way to the other side of the mouth.
Brush on the inside surface of every tooth making sure that you clean down to the gums.
Gently brush the surfaces of the top and bottom teeth. Start on one side and follow all the way to the other side of the mouth.
Stop: When you have finished brushing, spit out the toothpaste, but don’t rinse your mouth with water.
If you can only manage once a day, then it should be at night, after eating.
If the person’s gums begin to bleed when you are brushing their teeth, this usually mean that they have gum disease and that their gums need to be brushed more, not less. By brushing twice a day, you should notice that the health of their gums will improve, and the bleeding will stop. If bleeding continues, you should see your dental practitioner.
Flossing and interdental brushes help remove food and plaque from between teeth, where the toothbrush can’t reach.
It can be difficult to floss someone else’s teeth. Try using a floss holder or an interdental brush. Where possible try and do this once a day.
Only use a mouth rinse if it has been recommended by your dental practitioner.
Some people have difficulty with swallowing or dysphagia. Before brushing their teeth, it is important to check their mouth. Do this by using a toothbrush, wipes or swabs to clear away any food. Make sure to check their cheeks. It might be more comfortable for the person to have their head tilted forward for brushing. Try and brush twice a day with a small, soft, dry toothbrush that has a smear of fluoride toothpaste on it.
You may want to try some toothpastes with low flavour and no foaming. Remove any excess saliva with a suction or a clean towel. Be sure to have suction available for toothbrushing if it is regularly used.
Some people have a dry mouth because of the medication they take. Saliva in the mouth has a protective effect against tooth decay. Dry mouth can also make it hard to chew and swallow food.
Offer water regularly through a drink bottle or a spray bottle filled with tap water. There are also some products available through your local pharmacy that can help.
Sometimes the person may have a strong gag reflex. Try using just a smear of fluoride toothpaste or pouring some fluoride mouth rinse into a cup and dip the head of the toothbrush into it to brush their teeth. You may want to try some toothpastes with low flavour and no foaming. A few granules of salt on the tongue can help reduce the gag reflex. In some cases, applying pressure midway between the chin and the lower lip can also help.
Plaque and bacteria left in the mouth can lead to chest infections or aspiration pneumonia if not removed every day. Brushing the person’s teeth everyday will help make their mouth feel more comfortable and help reduce bad breath.
Even if a person is tube fed, clean their teeth, gums and tongue every day.
If you are having difficulties brushing someone else’s teeth, try using an electric toothbrush or a three-sided toothbrush. This will limit the amount of time that you are brushing the person’s teeth. Some people will take longer than others to become comfortable with daily toothbrushing. You may need to consider a slow, familiarisation process for someone with anxiety or who has oral sensitivities. Try using an electric toothbrush on the persons fingernails first, so they get used to the vibration. Electric toothbrushes are often more efficient for a quick clean.
What we eat and drink can have a big effect on teeth. When we eat foods high in sugar, the sugar and bacteria in the mouth produce acid. This acid weakens the teeth and can cause tooth decay. If we eat frequently our mouths are in a constant state of acid. Instead, try and avoid snacking and give the teeth a rest between meals. This allows saliva to help neutralise acids.
Regular dental check-ups are important. If you notice any changes to a person’s mouth or any behaviour changes, especially when you are brushing their teeth, please arrange a dental appointment as soon as possible.
Go to the nearest hospital emergency department for:
