Products That Help Arthritis Patients Care For Their Dental Implants

People with arthritis face a number of challenges when it comes to dental care. With pain in the joints and loss of manual dexterity, many people find it difficult to care for their dental implants appropriately. Fortunately, there are many products on the market that can help people with arthritis to care for their dental implants.

Below are listed some of the many products that can help you care for your dental implants:

Tools to Help with Dental Implant Brushes and Interdental Brushes

Dental implant brushes are similar to tooth brushes but come equipped with specialized bristles that can easily clean narrow areas without damaging the implanted tooth. Interdental brushes are similar in appearance to to pipe cleaners and are used to clean between teeth. Although dental implant and interdental brushes often have angled necks to make it easier to access the teeth, many people with arthritis require help from special products to help them handle and manipulate these cleaning tools:

• Utensil holders. Utensil holders are designed specifically for arthritis patients and are meant to make it easier to hold on to eating utensils like forks and spoons. They work by strapping the utensil to the hand. Utensil holders make it possible to hold a variety of objects, including toothbrushes and interdental brushes, making it easier to work with the brush without grasping it too tightly. 
• Bike handle covers. Bike handle covers are an effective way to make the handle of the brush easier to grasp. To use a bike handle cover for this purpose, slip the cover over the handle of the brush, then use duct tape to secure the bike cover to the brush. 

In the absence of these tools, a folded wash cloth can be stuck over the handle of any interdental brush or dental implant brush to make the brush itself easier to grasp. This is a simple and effective way to make interdental brushes and dental implant brushes easier to use.

Tools to Help with Floss

Implant floss or unwaxed floss should be used on a daily basis to clean the areas between the implants. For people with arthritis, manipulating floss can be difficult and painful. To make flossing less painful and more effective, people with arthritis can use an electric flosser or a floss holder. Both tools will hold the floss for the arthritis patient, lessening the arthritis patient's discomfort. 

These tips will help arthritis patients manage their dental implant care effectively and independently. For more information about how you can care for your dental implants, speak with your dentist. To learn more, contact a company like Woodland Family Dental with any questions you have.

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