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Real members of myALZteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

My Husband Has Recently Starting Making Noises In The Evening As If Something Is Stuck In His Tooth, This Is Driving Me Crazy. I

A myALZteam Member asked a question 💭
London, UK

Is it part of Alzeihmers and can anything be done about it.

January 1, 2018
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Answer Summary

Members responded to someone asking if their husband's repetitive tooth-picking noises were part of Alzheimer's by first suggesting a dental... Read more

Members responded to someone asking if their husband's repetitive tooth-picking noises were part of Alzheimer's by first suggesting a dental check to rule out a physical cause, then acknowledging that compulsive behaviors like this are often uncontrollable aspects of dementia. Several members shared similar experiences, including a spouse who sings constantly and another who talks nonstop to himself, with the community offering strategies like identifying what specifically triggers the caregiver's frustration, using soft-voice talking, or offering simple comforts like water or reading aloud. A recurring theme was the importance of recognizing that these behaviors are not deliberate or attention-seeking but stem from the person's inability to control impulses, and that understanding the root of our own annoyance can help caregivers cope with greater patience and compassion.

A myALZteam Member

Unfortunately @A myALZteam Member, there’s little you can do about compulsive behaviour if that’s what it is. My wife sings to herself and whilst I don’t mind, its inappropriate at some times ( eg. in the middle of the sermon in church). We just have to get used to it and accept that this is something they can’t help or control. Try to identify what it is that annoys you. It will be something. If you can get a handle on that, it will take away some of the annoyance just by identifying what it is that annoys you about it. Usually the annoyance is because its pressing some button of ours and we haven’t recognized what it is.

January 2, 2018
A myALZteam Member

Thank you for the reply, he has a dental check up and nothing there. He stops after about sometime, so not sure.

January 2, 2018
A myALZteam Member

My dad did that all his life and my son also does it without realizing xx

July 29, 2018
A myALZteam Member

A good question @A myALZteam Member. Have you checked to see if there is anything stuck there or if his teeth have some problem (eg a part has chipped away or there is decay or a loose filling etc) If he hasn’t had a dental check in a while, it might be worth a visit to the dentist to have a look and check things out. Sometimes these things are based in fact.

January 1, 2018 (edited)
A myALZteam Member

Rodger,
Great answer.

February 2, 2018

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