Tried music too, but honestly, what worked best was brushing at the same time each day—routine seemed to ease her anxiety. Not perfect, but it helped us a bit.
Routine definitely makes sense, especially if anxiety's an issue. Did you find mornings or evenings easier for brushing? I remember my grandma was calmer in the evenings, but everyone's different...
Routine definitely makes sense, especially if anxiety's an issue. Did you find mornings or evenings easier for brushing?
Routine can definitely help, but honestly, I found flexibility mattered more with my dad. He had dementia and mornings were usually tougher—he'd be groggy, sometimes confused, and brushing became a struggle. Evenings were smoother for us, especially after dinner when he was relaxed. But there were days we had to switch it up completely, because sticking rigidly to a schedule sometimes made him more resistant. Every person reacts differently, so it's worth experimenting a bit to see what clicks best.
I totally get what you're saying about flexibility. My mom has dementia too, and mornings are usually rough for us as well—she's often disoriented or just not in the mood. I've found that afternoons, after she's had lunch and a nap, tend to be calmer. But like you said, some days nothing works and we just have to roll with it... trial and error seems to be the name of the game. Hang in there, you're definitely not alone in this.
We've had similar struggles with my dad. At first, I thought mornings would be better since he's usually more alert, but turns out he's also more resistant then. Afternoons do seem a bit easier... have you found any particular toothbrush or toothpaste brand that your mom tolerates better?
