Dental Tips
- Stephanie Soto
- Sep 10
- 1 min read
Dental hygiene is important for everyone. With motor changes like dyskinesia, rigidity, and tremors, keeping up with your dental hygiene can be challenging. Dental hygiene is connected to heart disease and longevity, so it is super important that your teeth stay healthy! . Let's review some important tips to keep your teeth happy and healthy!
Dental Hygiene Tips
Brush after every meal for two minutes. This includes your tongue! If you cannot use an antimicrobial mouthwash.
Use a toothbrush with a large-handled grip and soft bristles.
Add a tennis ball or a bike handlebar to the end of your toothbrush to make it easier to hold.
Use an electric toothbrush if brushing is difficult.
Floss! Use a waterpik/water flosser if regular floss is difficult.
Remove dentures after each meal and brush and rinse them.
Brush or clean dentures in a solution at night.
Saliva helps with denture retention. Try to suck on sugar-free hard candy or use artificial saliva substitutes.
Avoid alcohol, tobacco, spicy foods, and acidic foods.
Tell your dental office what your PD symptoms are prior to your appointment. This will help them plan and prepare for your visit.
Schedule your appointments around your ON times,
Have your dentist record your vital signs when you arrive in case you experience blood pressure changes or other medical events.
Tell your dentist if you are taking MAO-B inhibitors (rasagiline and selegiline) as these can interact with anesthetics.
Consider replacing old fillings, crows, or other dental work during the earlier stages of PD.
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