Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects the neurons in your brain and spinal cord, which may cause difficulty in walking, writing, speaking, and more. With ALS, you eventually run out of energy and become immobile. The disease usually strikes between the ages of 40 and 60. No one knows what causes ALS. It can run in families, but usually, it strikes at random.
Because of the challenges in mobility and flexibility that ALS causes, caring for one’s dental health can be challenging. As such, asking a neuropathy specialist is essential to learning tips and methods to properly care for one’s self while dealing with ALS.
If not cared for properly, poor dental health can lead to gum disease and pneumonia. Aside from that, poor oral care can reduce one’s appetite, as chewing or swallowing may be deemed too difficult.
To help you with proper dental care, our neurologist in Florida suggests brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste in the morning and evening. In order to properly dispense the right amount of toothpaste, we suggest using a hands-free toothpaste dispenser. Flossing is also crucial to remove plaque buildup.
Additionally, here are other tools we think might help:
- Dental wipes
- Oral irrigator
- Electric toothbrush
- Floss holder
- Tongue scraper
- Dry mouth oral rinse
- Mouth Swabs
- Portable oral suction device
- Suction toothbrush
- Other adaptive equipment (ask for an evaluation by an Occupational Therapist)
Frequent visits to the dentist are also essential to proper oral health while living with ALS.
For more tips on nerve pain treatment and living with ALS, Boca Raton Neurologic Associates will be more than glad to help you.
We also offer migraine medication in Boca Raton, Florida.