Assistance with oral hygiene care among family dementia caregivers in Chinese American Communities in New York City

Background

Oral hygiene care is instrumental to maintaining optimal oral health. As dementia progresses, individuals face challenges performing adequate oral hygiene care and become dependent on their caregivers. The role of family caregivers in assisting with oral hygiene care becomes increasingly critical. This study explored the association between caregiving circumstances, care recipient characteristics, and assistance in oral hygiene care among dementia caregivers in Chinese American communities.

Methods

Data came from a pilot study on Chinese dementia caregivers in New York City collected between November 2021 and June 2022. Purposive sampling was used to recruit family caregivers to participate in a survey (online or via telephone). Current caregivers (n = 76) were included. Caregiver assistance with oral hygiene care was measured by assistance with toothbrushing (yes or no) and assistance with flossing (yes or no). Descriptive analyses, group comparisons, and logistic regressions were conducted.

Results

Female caregivers tended to assist with toothbrushing. Caregivers with an average of 2.4 years in providing care tended to assist with flossing. Care recipients with tooth pain were 5.12 times more likely to receive assistance with toothbrushing. Care recipients with more natural teeth were 1.07 times more likely to receive assistance with toothbrushing. Care recipients with severe dementia were 94 % less likely to receive assistance with flossing.

Conclusions

The findings underscore the importance of understanding the factors that influence caregivers’ assistance with oral hygiene care. This study is a crucial first step toward developing effective, caregiver-led interventions to improve the oral hygiene of individuals with dementia.