The toothbrush is in their hand, but nothing happens next. Or the paste goes on, the brush goes in, and two seconds later it is back in the cup. Some evenings the person says they have already brushed, walks away from the sink, or pushes a helping hand aside. For families and care staff, teeth brushing is often the part of the day that goes wrong quietly, because nobody wants a struggle over a toothbrush twice a day.
This page is a practical guide to helping someone with dementia brush their teeth while they do as much as they can themselves. It starts with a free printable 6-step “Brushing your teeth” card, no email required, then covers setting up the sink, using the card, what to try when the person resists, dentures, when to bring in the dental team, and how the full card set, designed by an occupational therapist, is organized.
Download the free teeth brushing card
Download the PDFWant more pages like this? Dementia Teeth Brushing Cards $3.49 See the full set
The full 6-step “Brushing your teeth” card from the Dementia Teeth Brushing Cards set: six numbered pictures with a few large-print words each, from “Turn on the water” to “Rinse the brush and put it away.” Post it at eye level beside the bathroom mirror. Free for personal, family, and care-program use.
- Card: full sequence, 6 steps
- Each step: 1 picture, 3 to 7 large-print words
- Cueing level: 1 of 3 in the set
- Where: eye level beside the mirror
- Paper: US Letter, portrait
Why teeth brushing gets hard with dementia
Brushing is a chain of small steps that most adults have done thousands of times without thinking. Dementia can loosen that chain at different points, and knowing where it breaks shows what help is needed, often much less than doing it for them.
Keeping the order
Knowing what comes after the paste goes on the brush. This is what the numbered card is for: the person finds their step and carries on.
Getting started
Some people brush well once the brush is moving but cannot begin. A loaded brush placed in the hand is often start enough.
Recognizing the objects
A tube of toothpaste can look a lot like hand cream. A clear counter with only the brush, paste, and cup keeps the right items easy to find.
Comfort in the mouth
A sore tooth, tender gums, or a rubbing denture can make brushing unpleasant. A sudden refusal is worth a gentle look inside the mouth.
Setting up the sink
A few minutes of setup does more than any amount of reminding. Aim for a sink where the next step is obvious.
- Post the card at eye level beside the mirror. The set's caregiver guide suggests a matte laminate or wipeable sleeve, so it does not glare under bathroom light.
- Clear the counter. Leave out one toothbrush, one tube of toothpaste, and one cup, in the same spot every day. Put razors, creams, and cleaning products away.
- Make the brush easy to hold. The guide suggests fattening a slim handle with a washcloth and a rubber band, or a thick-handled soft brush. An electric toothbrush does the fine work, but introduce it gently, since the buzz startles some people.
- Offer a seat. If standing is tiring or unsteady, a stable chair in front of the basin lets the person brush sitting down, with the card still in view.
- Keep the water cool. If there is any risk of scalding, fill the cup in advance.
Step by step with the card
When the person stalls, point to the next picture rather than explaining. If you speak, use the card's words, the same way every time. Here is how to help at each step without taking over.
1. Turn on the water
Point to the picture, then to the tap. If the taps are hard to tell apart, turn on the cold one yourself and hand over from step 2.
2. Wet your toothbrush
Offer the brush handle first. If it is held upside down, turning it in their hand is a smaller help than taking it.
3. Put toothpaste on the brush
Squeezing a tube takes two hands and fine control. If this step stalls, load the brush yourself and hand it back. Ask the dental team how much toothpaste suits this person, especially if they tend to swallow it.
4. Brush all your teeth
The step most worth doing together: brush your own teeth beside them at the mirror, as the caregiver guide suggests. Watching a familiar person is often easier to follow than hearing it described. If only the front teeth get brushed, a light hand over theirs can guide the brush to the back.
5. Spit, then rinse your mouth
Hold out the cup. Some people find spitting hard or swallow the water instead; if that happens often, ask the dentist or dental hygienist what they suggest.
6. Rinse the brush and put it away
Back in the same cup, in the same place. Finishing the routine themselves keeps it theirs.
Give each step time, and wait before you point. As the set's guide puts it, “The card is there so that nobody has to remember.”
When the person resists or is distressed
Refusing to brush is common, and rarely just stubbornness. The person may not recognize what is being asked, may feel rushed or tired, or may be in pain. Keep it calm and short, and come back to it rather than force it.
- Stop and try again later. Ten minutes later often goes better than pushing through. Never force the mouth open or hold the person still.
- Check for pain. The caregiver guide notes that mouth pain is easy to miss in dementia: refusing to brush, refusing to eat, or pushing food away can all mean a sore tooth. Swollen or bleeding gums, a broken tooth, or a hand held to the face are reasons to arrange a dental check.
- Say it before you do it. Approach from the front, at eye level, and say what is about to happen before your hand moves toward their face.
- Offer a small choice. “Now, or after your tea?” gives back some control without asking whether to brush at all.
Helping with dentures
Dentures bring their own evening routine and risks: a denture dropped on a hard sink can break, and one put down somewhere new each night is easily lost. The Dementia Denture Care Cards follow the same design. The full card has six steps: take out your dentures, rinse them under the water, brush them all over, brush your gums and tongue, put them in the glass with a tablet, and leave them in overnight. The 3-step card shortens it to brush your dentures, put them in the glass, and leave them in overnight.
- Guard against drops. Line the basin with a folded towel, or fill it part way with water, before the dentures come out.
- Cool water and denture cleaner. The set's guide advises cool or lukewarm water only, since hot water can warp dentures, and denture cleaner rather than regular toothpaste, which is abrasive.
- Same glass, same spot, every night. A “Dentures” spot sign in the set marks where the glass lives.
- Watch the fit. If dentures slip, rub, or cause sore spots, or the person stops wearing them, arrange a dental check.
When to involve the dentist or dental hygienist
The cards support the routine; they do not replace the dental team. Questions about teeth, gums, dentures, or which products to use belong with them. Good reasons to get in touch:
- Regular check-ups, at the interval the dentist recommends. Mention the dementia when booking.
- Signs of mouth pain, bleeding or swollen gums, a loose or broken tooth, or a sore spot that does not settle.
- Dentures that slip, rub, or are left out more and more.
- A dry mouth, which some medicines can cause. Bring an up-to-date list of the person's medicines.
- Help with technique. A dental hygienist can show a helper how to brush another person's teeth gently.
How the teeth brushing card set is organized
The full Dementia Teeth Brushing Cards set has six US Letter pages in three levels of cueing, so support can step down as needs change: the 6-step card; a 3-step card (toothpaste on the brush, brush all your teeth, spit and rinse); and a “Brush your teeth” sink sign. Both step cards also come in a high-contrast version, black text and outlines on white, for low vision. The last page is a caregiver quick start with five setup tips.
| What you get | Free sample | Full set |
|---|---|---|
| Pages | 1 | 6 |
| 6-step card | Yes | Yes |
| 3-step simplified card | None | Yes |
| High-contrast large-print versions | None | Both cards |
| “Brush your teeth” sink sign | None | Yes |
| Caregiver quick start | Explained on this page | Included, 5 tips |
| Paper | US Letter | US Letter |
| Steps down as needs change | One level | Three levels of cueing |
Tips for teeth brushing with dementia
- Tie it to an existing habit. After breakfast and before bed, at the same times each day, brushing becomes routine rather than a request.
- Point, don't quiz. Use one calm phrase, such as the guide's “let's follow the pictures,” and avoid “what comes next?” Tap the next picture instead.
- Help only where it is needed. If only step 4 needs a hand, help with step 4 alone. Doing the rest themselves keeps the habit going.
- Tell every helper. In a care home, or with visiting care workers, agree on the same card, words, and order, so the cue does not change from shift to shift.
- Step down, not out. When the 6-step card stops working, try the 3-step card, then the sink sign, before taking over the whole task.
The free card above is one of six pages in the Dementia Teeth Brushing Cards. For a denture wearer, add the Dementia Denture Care Cards, and for the same sink, the Dementia Hand Washing Cards. All three are in the Daily Routine Cards Bundle, 34 print-ready pages covering five daily routines, from using the toilet to getting dressed. Our guide to dementia cue cards for daily routines has a free 8-step toilet card, and the daily routine visual schedule lays out the whole day. Everything is in the Dementia & memory care collection.
These materials support daily living and routine. They are not medical treatment, and no specific therapeutic outcomes are claimed. For questions about teeth, gums, or dentures, speak with the person's dentist or dental hygienist, and if a person's abilities change quickly, speak with their physician.
