To some people, brushing and flossing regularly is a challenge because they are lazy to do it. But to some people, the challenge is with their physical limitations. If you have been through an accident, or you are born with a disability or if you have developed a condition that makes it difficult for you to keep your daily dental routine, brushing can be such a feat. But don’t worry, there many dentists who want to help make this easier for you so that despite being physically challenged, you can still have clean, healthy teeth.
Brushing tips
Without the capacity to use your hands, arms, wrists and shoulders, brushing will be difficult. Although the conditions and challenges vary for many, here are some general tips that were proven to be helpful:
- For additional gripping strength, use a wide elastic band to attach the toothbrush to your hand
- If your problem is a weak hand or it has limited movement, attach a small rubber ball, a sponge, or a rubber grip to the toothbrush handle. They help with gripping.
- It’ll also be helpful if you could lengthen the handle of your toothbrush by attaching it to long things like a ruler, plastic rod or wooden dowel. This should help you reach your mouth more easily.
- You can also think about using electric or sonic toothbrushes as they don’t require much effort.
Flossing tips
In general, flossing is harder to do than brushing. How much more if you have physical limitations? Hopefully these tips could help make the task easier.
- Wind about 18 inches of floss on each of your fingers instead of holding it. his should allow you to floss without it slipping through your fingers and falling.
- Tighten the floss and move it in a seesaw motion instead of just pushing it straight down.
- Tie the ends of the floss making a big circle, making it easier to hold.
- You can also try using a floss holder.
