She puts them in random places sometimes like puzzles boxes or wrapped up in tissues. Yuck! I wondered about putting a sign telling her Don’t take your teeth out. Has anyone tried reminders using signs? Do they help?
It won't make a difference. Her mind does not work logically anymore. Reminders can be for gotten in seconds. First things to go is short-term memory. The ability to reason and comprehend and process what is being said. The less words used the better.
When my Mom was in the hospital I asked that no one talk to her about her care because she would not understand what she was saying. When I went to visit, I found 2 student nurses telling Mom about a test she was to be given. I could tell from Moms face they lost her after the first word. And told them that. She could no longer process what was being said to her.
There is no rhyme or reason to Dementia. You will never get ahead of it.
This is in reference to the post by Riley. People with dementia often misplace things such as hearing aids and dentures. It's not because they are dumb. They have impaired mental function and memory problems. They get confused easily. They do not have to have dementia to have short term memory problems. I agree that it is not cost effective to continually replace these items. That being said, we should treat them kindly and with compassion. They are quite often aware of their deficits and it is cruel to infer that they are dumb. They're not!
LOL no advice but fun memories of Grandma. She would carry her teeth in her pocket and only wear them for meals. They didn’t fit right but she would not go to the dentist to have them corrected. I was so upset at her funeral when’s they put them in her mouth for the viewing. My cousins all agreed they should have been in her pocket.
Most likely, nothing will help but you could try taking her to the bathroom to brush them after lunch. She may have been taking them out for years in the afternoon. Perhaps get her a nice reservoir to soak them in. If it’s new activity, they may be bothering her and she simply takes them out to be more comfortable.
I think you’re trying to treat the symptom. The real questions is, why is she doing this in the first place? Does she think it’s nighttime? Do they bother her? Hurt her? Is she worried or anxious about losing them? I would try to get to the root of the problem.
I don’t know. When I ask her she doesn’t know. She doesn’t complain about them buying her. She is very confused about time of day. I have found her all undressed, teeth out, asleep in bed as early as 2:30 in the afternoon. So she may think it is almost time for bed. The routine is to put them in a container in the bathroom which I usually get ready for her each night. She can do it herself but has sometimes forgotten and just left them in her bed or wrapped in a tissue by her night stand. So I get it ready for her each night.
My hubby takes his teeth out multiple times a day. He can never remember that he has them in or out. He has new dentures that fit him perfectly. I think the reason he does it, is because it's one of the only things he can do by himself and it gives him a sense of control. So I just roll with it.
false teeth must be uncomfortable. As the body ages the jaw bones shrink (due to lack of natal teeth)...the dentures become ill fitting...rub & often cause soreness, bruising & even ulcers. you could organize for a dentist to check the fit. probably needs a simple realignment to improve the fit. Needs to be checked every 6 months Additionally the dentist can give you a brightly colored plastic box for your Mother to put the false teeth in if they are bothering her. More hygienic, and easy to locate when she does take them out If you want to get a small sense of how uncomfortable it is to wear those big cumbersome blocks in the mouth called false teeth get a set of plastic retainers...then wear them all day ...I promise by afternoon (probably before) you will be removing them in a hurry quick & fast There are now "flexible dentures" They are much more comfortable to wear & to speak & chew in.. You could google & read about the pros & cons...Then call a couple of dentists & see if they offer them...its only 1 or 200 more than the current blocks called dentures in answer summary: no a sign won't do a thing..except probably annoy mum :) She's taking them out for good reason
I actually have worn a retainer for years after having to get braces for the second time. So if they are like that, I can imagine. Thank you so much for your reply. I probably should make a dental appointment.
Putting up signs may give you temporary relief because at least you'll have tried. It will not make a ha'p'orth of difference to what your mother does with her teeth.
You could give her a pretty pot to put her teeth in. If it's attractive and easy for her to reach she might mostly/occasionally/once put her denture(s) in it. It isn't really the yuk factor that matters so much as the risk of her dentures getting thrown out with the garbage.
Has anyone checked her mouth to see if anything is making the denture uncomfortable? A good rinse after meals and snacks might be helpful, too.
My mother with MCI did very well with "notes" printed on an 8.5"x11" paper in a dark size 20-28 font and posted on the walls (like our address and how to use her cell phone) as well as a daily "checklist" with routine things tasks like brush your teeth, get the newspaper, etc. and a "take your cane" reminder posted on the exterior door. I also posted notes with "plates", "cups", "cereal" on the kitchen cabinets when Mom moved into my house.
When my Mom was in the hospital I asked that no one talk to her about her care because she would not understand what she was saying. When I went to visit, I found 2 student nurses telling Mom about a test she was to be given. I could tell from Moms face they lost her after the first word. And told them that. She could no longer process what was being said to her.
There is no rhyme or reason to Dementia. You will never get ahead of it.
If it’s new activity, they may be bothering her and she simply takes them out to be more comfortable.
you could organize for a dentist to check the fit. probably needs a simple realignment to improve the fit. Needs to be checked every 6 months
Additionally the dentist can give you a brightly colored plastic box for your Mother to put the false teeth in if they are bothering her. More hygienic, and easy to locate when she does take them out
If you want to get a small sense of how uncomfortable it is to wear those big cumbersome blocks in the mouth called false teeth get a set of plastic retainers...then wear them all day ...I promise by afternoon (probably before) you will be removing them in a hurry quick & fast
There are now "flexible dentures" They are much more comfortable to wear & to speak & chew in.. You could google & read about the pros & cons...Then call a couple of dentists & see if they offer them...its only 1 or 200 more than the current blocks called dentures
in answer summary: no a sign won't do a thing..except probably annoy mum :) She's taking them out for good reason
You could give her a pretty pot to put her teeth in. If it's attractive and easy for her to reach she might mostly/occasionally/once put her denture(s) in it. It isn't really the yuk factor that matters so much as the risk of her dentures getting thrown out with the garbage.
Has anyone checked her mouth to see if anything is making the denture uncomfortable? A good rinse after meals and snacks might be helpful, too.
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