Charlie's Brain and His Teeth

Yesterday I wrote a blog post about the connection between dental health and brain health. This one is about the connection between the brain and the teeth.

There really is a difference.

I want to tell you about Charlie's brain/teeth connection. You see, now his damaged brain is telling him that there is something wrong with his teeth. This has turned into another of his "how to drive Marlis nuts" fixations.

Charlie has pretty good teeth for an old duffer. But now he says his teeth are too close together and he wants me to get an appointment for the dentist to "fix" the problem, which of course he has had since he got his second teeth 70 plus years ago.

He thinks the dentist can grind between each tooth so food won't get caught between them! Day in and day out we have this discussion with the resulting question, "Did you get me a dentist appointment yet?"

Then there is the second "problem" with his teeth. They are becoming very stained and he wants the dentist to do something about that. I finally figured out that the reason they are getting stained, in spite of cleanings every three months, is that he constantly "swishes" his coffee or wine while drinking it instead of immediately swallowing.

He thinks he's "cleaning his teeth" by swishing! I correct him every time I see him swishing, but he insists it's the thing to do.

I bought him a teeth-whitening kit but he refuses to use it; he wants the dentist to do something. I told him the only thing the dentist could do would be an expensive whitening treatment or even more expensive capping of the teeth. And of course, neither procedure would last long as he insists on swishing.

It's strange, the things the brain of a dementia patient comes up with.

The question becomes, how do we as caregivers cope with these obsessions?

The answer is—ignore them as much as possible. Try ANYTHING to distract them from the thing they are obsessing over, and GRIT YOUR TEETH – not too hard, or you too will have a tooth problem.

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Simon Says...!

If you are having trouble motivating your loved one with Alzheimer's disease to complete routine tasks like bathing or brushing his or her teeth, try making a game of it by playing Simon Says. As the disease progresses, your loved one will probably need step-by-step instructions, so why not make it fun. Here's some example for playing Simon Says to accomplish daily care activities:

Brushing Teeth:

Simon says pick up your tooth brush.
Simon says put some toothpaste on your tooth brush.
Simon says brush your upper teeth.
Simon says brush your bottom teeth.
Simon says brush your upper left teeth.
Simon says brush your lower right teeth.
Ans so on....

Bathing:

Simon says it's time to take your bath (or shower).
Simon says go into the Bathroom.
Simon says take your clothes off.
Simon says step into the Bath Tub (or shower).
Simon says pick up the sopap.
Simon says rub the soap over your left arm.
Simon says rub the soap on your left leg.
Simon says rub the soap on your cheast.
Simon says rub the soap over your right arm.
Simon says rub the soap on your right leg.
Simon says rinse the soap off your body.
And so on...

Washing Hair:

Simon says wet your hair under the shower (or sink, depending on how you normally prefer to do this task).
Simon says put some shampoo in your left (or right) hand.
Simon says rub the shampoo in your hair.
Simon says rinse your hair under the water.
Simon says pick up the towel and rub the water out of your hair.
And so on...

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Bathroom Signs & Toiletry Labels

Refuses To Brush Teeth

For a person with Alzheimer's, simple tasks become extremely difficult as a result of memory loss. Your loved one may refuse to brush his or her teeth because he or she has forgotten how to.

You might try:

• Providing short, simple instructions. “Brush your teeth” may be too difficult. Instead try: “hold your  toothbrush,” “put paste on the brush” and “brush your top teeth,” etc.
 
• Using  a mirroring technique. Hold a brush and show your loved one how to brush his or her teeth.

• Use a mirroring technique. Hold a brush and show the individual how to brush his or her teeth.