My mom has dementia. She keeps losing her teeth. It's a very expensive loss since dad gets her a new set each time. Any ideas on what to do?

With dementia, your mom simply can't remember to follow any rules about her teeth. If your dad doesn't have dementia, it would be up to him to try to help mom keep track of her teeth. Does she go out of their house a lot and that's where she might lose them? Any idea what's happening with them? For example, my mom left hers on her napkin after eating and threw the napkin away. In that case, I'd make sure dad knew to check any napkins/paper towels before he put them in the garbage. If you had some idea of what was happening, you might be able to figure out how to prevent it, but only if others are watching out. Mom simply doesn't have that capacity anymore.

If she’s in a SNF or ALF, they usually put a chip in them so they can be found. Patients are always taking their teeth out & losing them

Oh my gosh, my mom does the same thing. She bought a replacement pair and lost those too. We have been on our hands and knees so many times looking for them under her bed etc. she’s put them in napkins and tossed them too.

I’ve jokingly said she should wear them around her neck on a necklace and I’m now seriously thinking that’s an excellent idea. If there is a way to create a necklace out of the denture box, please let me know ASAP!!

My first question is why does she keep it keep taking out her dentures while eating and putting them in her napkin? The purpose of having dentures is to make it easier to eat.

It seems that Dad needs to be the keeper of the Denture container and be with her during meals so that if he sees her take the dentures out he's right there with their case.

At the end of the day when your mom is getting ready for bed can your dad stand by as she removes her dentures and then he puts them in their box to soak? He could take the box to another bathroom or to the kitchen, somewhere where your mom can't get to them until it's time to put them in the next day.

My Mom has lost her lower dentures twice. A particularly worrisome episode was when she was in short-term rehab when she must have placed them on her cafeteria tray wrapped in a tissue and cafeteria staff must have thrown them away. Now she is memory care and we have no way to afford a replacement. With all he other issues - WHY?

My Mother did this also. She wanted to hide them so no one would steal them. After buying a new partial for her after she “lost” it, we found it wrapped in tissue paper in the back of the linen closet. Please look around before you buy new ones. It’s probably safely hidden somewhere.

This is so like the child's lost retainer scenario....really not much different! There have been many a parent rooting through the dumpster looking for their child's retainer. If it's happening at home, a cheerful ceramic container that they can be placed in at the dinner table if she must removed them. If it occurs at a restaurant, a portable version with cover will do. I agree paper napkins and the ever present kleenex are dangerous options. Even with kids and their retainers, there is a tendency to cover them up (less gross) and that is the problem. Out of sight, out of mind:)

First, Katsue never said anything about the dining table or napkins. Meals does not seem to be the problem time for removing them.

Second, Mom has dementia. Asking her or “training” her to use anything is not going to happen and will only aggravate everyone else. Sorry, it’s just the reality of the situation. If you can get someone to do a specific task it will only be a short lived situation.

My husband has a similar situation, but with his
glasses. He’s now advanced enough and in a memory care facility, so I don’t even bother where his glasses may be. However, when he was still at home, I was constantly searching for his glasses. They are a grey horn rim that looked great on him but blended into EVERYTHING!

The real issue is why is she removing her dentures? Are they loose or ill fitting? Is there some kind of irritation or a gum issue? If she’s not using them to eat (because she’s misplaced them again) does she really need them? I know you want her looking her best, but, if she’s not really concerned about them, is it worth the aggravation? At some point they’ll become more of a problem than they are worth. It’s about what’s best for her.

A couple of ideas. First, get multiple copies made next time Dad replaces them. Multiples to the same ‘prescription’ ought to be a lot cheaper than a complete new moulded set each time. Second, ask for a bright coloured strip to be put into the top surface of the top set of teeth, to stop them being so easy to disguise when they are taken out. In that position, the colour won't be detectable in use. Third, it might be even possible to insert a steel strip that will be detectable with a magnet, to simplify going through the waste bin. Fourth, if the dentist says they can’t organise anything like that, find a new dentist that uses a different technician who will oblige. There are even dental technicians who make custom sets with ‘mock vampire’ teeth, so it is just a case of asking around! Dentists make a lot of money out of false teeth, so you will find a dentist with an incentive to oblige. As it seems to be a fairly common problem, an innovative technician might even find a new and lucrative market!