Sprung
get off the ipad.
I’m not playing games, I’m reading the newspaper.
All your talk about the oral health project and look at this
oral health is about more than teeth.
What’s it say?
Apparently
gum disease is linked to heart disease and getting chest infections
and makes it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar.
I could have told you that.
Do you believe it?
Sure,
you can see it in the clients that had their teeth fixed.
Not that stuff you’re talking about
but immediate effects like eating better,
being able to speak more clearly,
having a fresh breath and getting out of pain.
So, yes I can believe that having a healthy mouth can have an effect
What’s the story with gum disease
how do you get it?
If you don’t clean where the gum meets the tooth,
the coating of bacteria gets thicker irritating the gum until it becomes red and inflamed.
After that the bone shrinks and the next thing you know, the tooth is loose.
And smoking makes it even more likely that you will get gum problems and increases your risk of mouth cancer.
That was empty.
You should think about quitting smoking , Tim.
Yeah
I know I should
The other thing is that our clients are on a lot of medication,
and some of them dry up the saliva in their mouths.
So what?
Saliva is the stuff that keeps your mouth healthy.
It’s like the oil in your car keeping your engine going.
So that’s why your clients are seizing up.
Don't be rude.
Saliva is not just a lubricant,
it has loads of other stuff in it that fights tooth decay and gum disease.
Caffeine also dries up saliva.
I try to encourage my clients try decaff
and most of them are all right about that.
Also some foods make dry mouth worse like dry or salty or spicy foods.
Sipping on tap water
cutting down on sugary drinks and alcohol also helps.
So how do you know if you’re keeping your gum line clean?
Have a dental check-up at least once a year
and learn how to brush properly.
So how do your old folk go, some of them can't even hold a brush.
I'm glad you asked sunshine.
R…RIGHT
I need to learn to brush the teeth of some of my clients
R…Right
And you would do anything for me
Sort of right…
Right
So,
the best way for me to learn is to have someone I trust brush my teeth for me so I know what its like
and for me to brush their teeth so they can give me feedback.
The things you do for love.
So, what’s in it for me?
Your favourite spicy burritos if you do …. or dry toast if you don’t
Burritos it is then
When you clean your own teeth, you can feel what you are cleaning and what you are not cleaning.
Your fragile gums warn you to be careful when you get near them and how to avoid any sore spots in the mouth.
You can easily keep track of where you have cleaned and your tongue tells you what feels clean and what needs more attention.
It all happens so perfectly you are not even aware of these things.
When you brush the teeth, gums line and tongue of someone else, there is no feedback.
You’re doing the brushing.
They’re doing the feeling,
and they may not be able to tell you if it hurts or if you are making them feel uncomfortable.
So you have to know how to do this job properly.
It isn’t easy to do it well without feedback
so Tim and Julie are going to practice their brushing on each other and talk about how it felt.
Your choking me, get your hands away.
Is that better?
Ahahh arghh
too far back, I gag if you go back further than my teeth
Sorry
do I still get my burritos? Depends – give it another go.
How's that?
Heaps better, now let me have a go.
I gotta say this is weird brushing each others teeth.
I know what you mean – but I really need to do this.
Lets go.
Now, put a pea sized amount of toothpaste on the brush.
Not too much so it doesn’t froth up.
I approach the client from the side so that I don’t freak them out.
I show them the toothbrush so they know what I am going to do.
I cradle their head into the crook of my arm, index finger on the chin.
thumb holding down the lower lip so I can get to the front of the lower teeth.
Fingers away from the throat.
Then, making sure I clean the outside,
biting side
and inside of every part of the mouth.
Outside,
biting side,
inside.
Making sure that I focus on the gum line where the tooth meets the gums
outside,
biting side,
inside.
What’s that for?
To retract your cheek
I need to get a better look in there.
Clever, did you buy the hot and spicy salsa sauce?
Poke out your tongue.
No.
I mean it – poke it out
What was that for?
Your tongue collects a lot of bacteria.
They’re furry things and they get a furrier if you don’t clean them.
I don’t think your clients are going to like that.
You're right, but some will and the ones that can brush their own teeth might take advice to clean their tongue.
In a lot of countries it's normal to do it.
So why were you standing behind me?
You get a good look from behind and you can support their head
not all clients will like you standing behind them.
It’s OK to stand in front and brush.
And you don’t have any choice if they can’t get out of bed.
Why am I bleeding? It's not sure but there is a bit of blood on my gum.
Gingivitis.
The only way you can get rid of that is by keep brushing away the bacteria where the tooth meets the gum.
But if it's bleeding shouldn't you stay away from the gum.
No
It wont help if you do that
Don’t rinse
it's best not to rinse out with water
a little toothpaste left in the mouth helps fight tooth decay.
But what if I want to rinse out?
Well if you must,
get another pea sized amount of toothpaste and put it on your finger and just wipe it over the teeth after you rinse out.
Now, thoroughly rinse the toothbrush,
tap it dry
and store it in an open space to dry out.
And talking about toothbrushes, did you know you should change your toothbrush every 3 months?
A good way to remember is at the change of each season.
So what do you do you get a client that is a bit tricky?
Well, maybe some clients resist because they have a sore tooth or an ulcer
so we have a good look in their mouth and then report any problems to our coordinator.
But mostly they resist because they feel insecure or unsure about what’s going to happen, or if it's going to be uncomfortable.
It's about thinking about how to set up the tooth brushing at a time, in a place and in a way that makes the client feel secure and at ease
setting up a pattern so it happens.
I get it, so patterns make it happen.
Like it
and you have to understand that the mouth is a sensitive personal space,
know the right sort of approach to use and have a few tricks up your sleeve if you want to be effective.
That’s why we’ve been practising on each other
I now know what it feels like to have some else brush your teeth.
How about the salsa sauce
I’ll give you hot and spicy