MANAGING SYMPTOMS( continued)
Tube feeding and dental care
Oral health care is absolutely necessary for people receiving tube feedings. The same oral health protocol applies to reduce bacteria in the mouth.
Additional Tips
• Avoid smoking.
• Use sugar-free candies.
• Minimize overly salty foods.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and citrus-containing drinks.
• Add club soda or sparkling water to cut through thickened secretions.
• For dry mouth, use sugarless cough drops or over-the-counter dry mouth products.
Drooling
Drooling is a common problem for patients with PSP. Incomplete swallowing causes an accumulation of saliva in the mouth. The salivary pool overflows from the corners of the mouth. This may cause sores and cracking in these areas of skin. Check with your dentist to see if you may need a prescription cream to treat these areas.
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Conclusion
Good oral hygiene is very important. Take time out to take care of your well-being. Being able to prevent problems today is well worth it tomorrow. With ingenuity, patience, care, and sometimes humor, oral hygiene will become more routine and less difficult. Your efforts will result in healthier teeth and gums and will minimize risk of aspiration pneumonia.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Heather Cianci, PT, MS, GCS
“ Physical therapists are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.”( apta. org)
Physical therapy( PT) plays an important role in helping individuals with PSP, CBD, or MSA and their carepartners to cope with mobility changes that occur as the disease progresses. Commonly, individuals are referred to physical therapy because of changes in their walking, balance, and activities of daily living. Ideally, physical therapy should begin immediately following diagnosis, not later when loss of mobility and falls are already happening.
Establishing a relationship with a therapist early on in the disease course can help with the management of physical changes that occur as the disease progresses. Individuals with PSP, CBD, and MSA benefit not only from continual exercise and physical activity but also from the social engagement that PT and exercise offer.