My husband can no longer understand how to floss. His gums are swollen, bleed, and smell bad. I try to floss his teeth for him, but it is a disaster. I brush with him for long periods, and then he can still understand how to use a water flosser. Tried the little pre-flossed sticks, and those are impossible. Any hints how to floss someone else?
I would encourage you to have him use collidial silver as a rinse and swallow to help with the bleeding and swelling, that should handle the smell as blood in our mouths is an icky smell.
The surgery may or may not be a good idea depending on how far along dh is into his dementia diagnosis. A consultation with the Periodontist should be useful.
Good luck.
Being able to use a water flosser is helpful after each meal. I myself would stop flossing his teeth. Curious, is he able to gargle, or would he swallow the mouth wash (a non-alcoholic mouth wash of course)? If unable to grasp gargling, then no to that idea. Xylitol mints after each meal & drinks are helpful too.