Taking Care of Your Mouth and Teeth with Parkinson’s Disease

If you have Parkinson’s disease (PD), taking care of your teeth and mouth is very important. With a few simple steps, you can keep your mouth healthy and feel better every day.

Why Mouth Care Can Be Hard with Parkinson’s

Body changes:

• Shaking, stiffness, and weak hands can make brushing or flossing hard.
• Jaw and tongue movements may make it hard to chew or swallow.
• Dry mouth can cause tooth decay or make eating uncomfortable.
• Too much saliva (drooling) can lead to infections and trouble speaking.

Mind and mood changes:

• Forgetting things might lead to skipping brushing or flossing.
• Feeling tired, sad, or unmotivated can make you avoid dental care.
• Lack of focus might make you rush through brushing or do it poorly.

What Can Happen Without Good Mouth Care

• Cavities and gum disease
• Tooth pain or loss
• Infections in the mouth or lungs (if saliva or food goes down the wrong way)
• Trouble speaking clearly
• Eating problems and weight loss

Easy Tips for a Healthy Mouth

Daily Care:

• Brush your teeth two times a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Rinse your mouth after eating.
• Use soft toothbrushes or electric ones if brushing is hard.
• Use a non-alcohol mouthwash (if you can swallow safely).
• Floss every day—ask a family member or caregiver to help if needed.
• Set reminders or alarms to help you remember.

Dry Mouth or Drooling:

• Sip water often or use artificial saliva spray.
• Chew sugar-free gum to help with dry mouth.
• Talk to your doctor about medicine or injections for drooling.

What to Eat or Avoid:

• Avoid sticky or hard foods that get stuck in your teeth (like chewy meat).
• Don’t eat too much sugar, junk food, or drink soda.
• Don’t chew ice—it can hurt your teeth.

Other Helpful Tips:

• Clean dentures or mouthguards every day.
• Wear a mouthguard at night if you grind your teeth.
• Try salt water rinses, peppermint tea, or clove oil for sore gums.
• Caregivers can help you keep a daily routine.
• Ask your dentist or doctor for help learning good brushing habits.

When to See the Dentist

• If you have tooth pain, swelling, or a new problem in your mouth
• Go for regular check-ups, even if you feel fine
• Take your medicine before your visit so your movement is better (during your "On" time)
• Tell your dentist if you have deep brain stimulation (DBS)—some tools may need to be avoided
• Ask your doctor to help with jaw shaking or stiffness before any dental work

Things to Stay Away From

• Too much mouthwash if you have trouble swallowing
• Hard toothbrushes that can hurt your gums
• Soda, candy, and ice chewing—these hurt your teeth

Taking care of your mouth helps you eat, speak, and feel better. With support and simple tools, you can keep your mouth healthy—even with Parkinson’s.
 

 

Last updated: 2025
Reviewed translations: n/a

*Google-based automatic translation uses an algorithm to translate text, which may not fully capture the medical terminologies, original language's context, idiomatic expressions, or subtleties. As a result, some of the translations that have not been reviewed may be imprecise.