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SharonMG Asked December 2019

How about hygiene - teeth?

Isthisrealyreal Dec 2019
Have you thought about a water pic? Floss and scrub all at once and you don't need to add anything that could be potentially hazardous to swallow.

Tongue scraping and watering would be the easiest solution in my opinion. You can buy a tongue cleaner that only requires one hand.

OldSailor Dec 2019
I suggest you read the labels on tooth paste. Some say that if more than a usual amount is swallowed to contact poison control. Not all tooth pastes but some.

Maybe baking soda would help.

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Grandma1954 Dec 2019
Electric tooth brush makes caring for someone else's teeth easier. Makes caring for your own also easier.
If the person has a problem with spitting or there is a potential of swallowing the toothpaste switch to a children's toothpaste or one with no fluoride. (ingesting fluoride is not good)
If there is a problem with a toothbrush there are swabs intended for oral care.
the swabs also work well to absorb excess moisture when a person has a problem swallowing. They are also good for removing food after eating from the cheeks and along the lower and upper gums (pocketing)
My Husband had dementia and became non compliant with dental care and I felt it was not worth the risk having him go through oral surgery to remove some teeth and fill others. At some point you pick your battles and what is worth getting done and what is best left alone.

JoAnn29 Dec 2019
If your having a problem brushing, there are little sponges in a stick with toothpaste in them.
needtowashhair Dec 2019
Do not put toothpaste on those oral swabs. That's not what they are intended for. Oral swabs are used on people that can't rinse and spit out. While you can swallow toothpaste without it killing you, it's not a good thing to do.

Put some mouthwash on that swab if you must.

An oral swab is no replacement for proper brushing and oral irrigation. But in the lieu of doing nothing, it's better than nothing.

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