Bad breath is embarrassing, especially for seniors. But when it’s getting tougher for aging adults to keep up with the healthy habits that work to prevent bad breath, it may be more difficult to manage alone. There are lots of reasons seniors might have bad breath, and personal care at home aide can help them resolve many of those issues.
What Is Bad Breath?
Bad breath, also called halitosis, occurs when bacteria gets stuck in the mouth, on the surface of the tongue, and around teeth and then produces odors. For people of all ages, bad breath can often be relieved by using good oral hygiene. Sometimes certain foods like onions or tuna might cause temporary bad breath. But because there are other causes of bad breath, sometimes seniors in particular need to talk with their doctor or dentist about the potential causes.
Causes of Bad Breath in Seniors
Dry mouth is a common cause of bad breath because saliva isn’t washing away the bacteria producing the smells. Seniors might have dry mouth because of medication side effects or other health issues. Gum disease is another common cause of bad breath, especially if the gums are infected. Certain health issues, like diabetes, can cause changes in breath smell. If seniors haven’t been to their doctors or dentists about their bad breath concerns, it’s important to start there.
Coping with Bad Breath
Getting the right amount of fluids every day can be an easy first step for seniors who are concerned about bad breath. Dehydration causes a lot of other health problems, so making sure that they’re drinking plenty of water really can help. From there, personal care at home can help seniors to brush their teeth easily and properly. They can also help with flossing and other tasks, like denture care. As embarrassing as something like bad breath can feel, seniors need to know that elder care providers are there to help them, not judge them or make them feel bad.
When to See a Doctor About Bad Breath
If seniors have tried practicing good oral hygiene, especially with the help of home care providers, and have tried other solutions as well, it might be more serious than they think. Most of the time, taking good care of teeth and dentures helps quite a bit. If that isn’t the case and seniors are also experiencing other symptoms, a doctor’s visit is definitely in order.
Dealing with Other Hygiene Challenges
For many seniors, the big problem that leads to bad breath is that they’re having trouble keeping up with hygiene tasks for a variety of reasons. That might also mean that bathing is getting more difficult or that seniors need help with other tasks besides oral care. Personal care at home can help with all types of hygiene tasks, keeping seniors safer and healthier as they age in place.
Bad breath doesn’t have to be something that seniors accept as part of aging. Personal care at home can help them to get the answers they need about what’s really going on and then find solutions to manage their bad breath effectively.