Follow
Share
Read More
Find Care & Housing
The realization that you can't teach an old dog new tricks and the associated pain of having to stay calm when the same request (like brushing teeth) needs repetitive reminding and gentle guiding with more and more resistance in return. When does one give up? I love that guy - my husband (due to stroke and old age my old baby now) - how can I allow myself to look the other way?
Helpful Answer (47)
Reply to Alpha3
Report
gdaughter Jan 2020
I feel for you. Slightly different spin is my mother who was the dental poster adult she was so meticulous and OCD about brushing/flossing...and somewhere along the way, though still functioning independently with numerous ADL's, she has obviously stopping brushing and flossing as the DDS, who happens to annoyingly be our next door neighbor, and whose own mother resides in a nursing home with dementia and stroke effects, found 13 cavities in the past week. I looked up articles and have learned that 1. It is a common issue 2. it is often neglected 3. it is time consuming 4. it takes immense patience. obviously very hard to stand by as you know decay could take over and cause so many other health issues. There doesn't seem to be any good answers. This DDS rejected the idea of an electric/battery powered brush as it's hard for her to remember the OLD method, let alone get used to something new. He also poo pooed her coming in more frequently for cleanings...which I am going to disagree with. If someone goes in more often it could certainly catch decay and problems before they advance to a worse state, don't you think? It's just logical. Thus far mom apparently (dad is taking her) has been cooperative with the process, so for as long as it can go on, I think that's the way we're going, but I am so open to hearing from others on how they deal with this important issue. We have to take comfort in knowing we have tried and done all we can. Is your guy at home? Is there a home care DDS that makes home visits? I read that fruit salad of all things may help clear nasty bacteria away, and so might fruits/vegetables...so the other day I cut up pieces of celery, radishes...and yes, mom dove in...and sitting beside the container on the counter was a bottle of soda....
(1)
Report
See 1 more reply
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter