Brushing your teeth is essential for good oral hygiene and should be done twice a day. This type of personal hygiene can be challenging for people with sight loss, so we've outlined some tips to make cleaning your teeth easier.
Brushing your teeth is essential for good oral hygiene and should be done twice a day. This type of personal hygiene can be challenging for people with sight loss, so we've outlined some tips to make cleaning your teeth easier.
I have my own tube of toothpaste and squirt the toothpaste directly onto my teeth. So much easier and less messy than trying to aim for the toothbrush.
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If you have low vision, a small handheld dental mirror can help you see into your mouth, especially when flossing with interdental brushes or toothpicks.
The toothpaste cap is easy to lose because it's small and can roll around. Leave it standing upright so that it can’t roll away, and always put it in the same place so it’s easy to find. To keep the cap extra safe, you could hold it in your hand while you brush your teeth.
Alternatively, you can buy toothpaste with a hinged cap so you can open it easily without removing the cap.
If you don't share the toothpaste, squirt a pea-sized amount of toothpaste straight onto the end of your tongue. Use your tongue to cover your teeth with the paste before brushing.
If other people use the toothpaste, you could:
Make sure you brush all around your teeth to remove any plaque and bacteria. Most dentists recommend you brush for two to three minutes, twice a day to maintain good oral health. You could set a timer so you know when to stop brushing. Once you've finished, spit and rinse your brush thoroughly.