Posted 8/11/20
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 32:8-11
Hi all! Happy Tuesday to you, in spades…unless you are Baptist and anti- cards…then Happy Tuesday in a plenitudinal fashion to you. My calendar today is breath-taking…it is that full today. And to crown the day, a 4pm dentist appointment. Weeeeeeee!!! Dentists are today’s Cornbread dish du jour a la mode. Dinner is served.
Some Random Things You Can Learn About Dementia From Going to the Dentist
- Don’t wait– Dental issues, aside for the most part from a mouth injury, could be prevented or made less challenging if you catch them quickly. In addition, there are warning signs pointing to a dental emergency that you shouldn’t ignore. Are your teeth suddenly super sensitive to cold or touch? Is there a hole in your tooth that food gets caught in? Aches? What do most thinking people do? They visit the dentist, toot(h) sweet. Why? To avoid it getting worse and to treat the symptoms. Well, while in dementia there are a few notable differences, the same applies. I just spent 2 weeks going through the warning signs of dementia and have dedicated much of the blog’s history to promoting getting tested. Why? So you can be cure? 🙁 Sadly, not yet…they are working hard on that. No, you get tested so you can treat the symptoms and make life easier for yourself and your family. There are drugs that will lengthen the early (relatively easier) stage of the disease at the expense of the later (harder) stage. There are meds that will lesson or remove the pain of the dementia “cavity”, if you will, while, unfortunately, the disease continues below the surface. There are also new drugs in trial that have even more grandiose claims. BUT, you have to get teeth…uhhh…brain “checked” to have these help.
- Prevention is super important, and somewhat annoying.- I do brush my teeth at least twice a day. I try to remember to floss. I have a WaterPik, but seldom use it. It takes a lot of work to keep my teeth in even decent shape, for a person in my late 20s like I am. (I am 20+29)…but anything is better than a cavity or, waaaaay worse, a root canal. Plus the gum treatments…sigh. Same goes with dementia. Prevention is our best hope for this disease, and it is NOT foolproof. It is possible to do everything right, prevention-wise, and still get the disease. If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, they are selling vitamins and/or a load of bunk. However, eating right…heart-healthy, sleeping enough, exercising routinely, and anything else that is good for the heart is good for the brain. Don’t smoke. Protect your head from physical injury. Manage your stress level, your blood pressure, and your blood sugar. These are all time-consuming and somewhat hard to keep doing long-term…but they beat the alternative.
- Links?- There are studies that link bad oral health to dementia as either a sign or a contributing factor. There are also studies trying a bacteria that starts in the mouth to a cause of Alzheimer’s . Here are some links regarding this claim: Link Link Link Link . While the topic is interesting, I am not 100% convinced that oral health issues is causal…but I sure think it is a sign that something is wrong.
- Tools can help.- Keeping your teeth in good shape requires tools. As mentioned before, a good toothbrush that isn’t too firm, floss or better yet the pick flosser gadgets, and a WaterPik are all good choices. In dementia, you will also need many tools. From a personal care standpoint, you will need information. While I try my best to provide a lot of good help here, please become familiar with the Alz.org website and their toll free number. I also recommend Teepa Snow’s YouTube channel and other resources found on her website. She is amazing. While not “tools”, per se, having a care team of skilled folks at your disposal is critical too. You will need an elder law lawyer, a medical team, friends and family, trusted advisors, your Alzheimer’s Association office, your local area agency on aging…and more. Everyone has their specialty…
I wish I could sugarcoat this mess for you, but it is far worse than visiting our friends at the dentist’s office. But we are in it together and we will fight to #endALZ, right?
Update: Nothing new to report. I have an appointment to see mom tomorrow that may not work out. Enter Guilt, stage left.
Dad Joke of the day:
“What time did the man go to the dentist? Tooth hurt-y.”