Medical-grade silicone is the best material for Alzheimer’s patients who chew objects, and it is not particularly close. Products like the ARK Grabber and ARK Chewth Pick are FDA compliant, free from BPA, PVC, lead, phthalates, and latex, and they come in varying toughness levels designed specifically for oral use. For the cushions and seating these patients spend hours in each day, CertiPUR-US certified foam paired with institutional-grade Dartex stretch fabric covers offers the safest combination, though neither material is designed for direct oral contact. The distinction matters: a chew tool and a seat cushion serve fundamentally different roles in a care plan for someone with mouthing behaviors. Chewing on non-food objects is not a quirk or a habit.
It is a recognized clinical behavior. Pica occurs in approximately 10% of Alzheimer’s disease patients, typically in late-stage disease, and involves putting non-food objects in the mouth, biting, chewing, licking, and touching items with the lips. In behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, hyperorality is even more prevalent, observed in over 50% of individuals. The behavior mirrors infant mouthing. Patients are seeking sensory stimulation, rhythmic movement, and a sense of security through oral activity. This article breaks down the specific materials that work for dedicated chew tools versus cushion surfaces, the institutional standards memory care facilities actually use, the products worth considering, and the expert guidance on managing these behaviors safely.
Table of Contents
- Why Does Cushion Material Matter for Alzheimer’s Patients Who Chew Objects?
- Medical-Grade Silicone Chew Tools — The Safest Option for Direct Oral Contact
- What CertiPUR-US Certification Actually Means for Seat Cushions
- Institutional Fabrics and Covers That Memory Care Facilities Actually Use
- Fidget Cushions and Sensory Pillows — A Choking Hazard Warning
- What Experts Recommend Beyond Material Selection
- Where Dementia-Safe Material Design Is Heading
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does Cushion Material Matter for Alzheimer’s Patients Who Chew Objects?
The average person does not think about whether their couch cushion is toxic. But when a patient with late-stage Alzheimer’s spends hours mouthing the arm of their wheelchair or gnawing the corner of a seat cushion, the chemical composition of that foam and fabric becomes a genuine health concern. Standard furniture foam may contain ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP and TCEP flame retardants, formaldehyde, mercury, lead, heavy metals, and phthalates. A patient who is repeatedly chewing on or licking such materials is getting low-level but chronic exposure to compounds that no one should be ingesting. The problem is compounded by the fact that most caregivers do not realize there are safer alternatives until a behavior becomes unmanageable.
A family caregiver posting on the AgingCare forum described their loved one chewing on shirt sleeves, collars, and bedding, unsure of what to do. The clinical reality is that this behavior cannot always be stopped. Pharmacological options exist — trazodone and SSRIs like fluvoxamine have shown efficacy in reducing hyperorality and pica behaviors — but for many patients, the most practical intervention is making the environment safer rather than trying to eliminate the behavior entirely. The gap between what a patient actually chews and what a caregiver can control is where material selection matters most. You cannot always prevent a patient from mouthing their seat cushion, but you can make sure that cushion is covered in moisture-resistant, durable fabric and filled with foam that has been tested for harmful chemical content. And you can provide a dedicated chew tool made from materials specifically designed for oral contact.
Medical-Grade Silicone Chew Tools — The Safest Option for Direct Oral Contact
For anything a patient is going to put directly in their mouth, medical-grade silicone is the clear winner. ARK Therapeutic manufactures over 75 chew tools in varying toughness levels, all made in the USA from medical-grade materials. Every product is FDA compliant, free from BPA, PVC, lead, phthalates, and latex, and third-party tested for quality and safety. The ARK Grabber provides a safe alternative to chewing on hands, shirts, or pencils with a design that reduces choking risk. The ARK Chewth Pick was designed specifically for teens and adults as a discreet chewing tool that does not look clinical or infantilizing. The practical advantage of medical-grade silicone goes beyond chemical safety.
These products are dishwasher safe, can be cleaned in hot water or a sterilizer, and hold up to repeated aggressive chewing far better than fabric or foam alternatives. For caregivers managing a patient who mouths objects throughout the day, the ability to toss a chew tool in the dishwasher and hand it back is meaningful. Soft washcloths and fleece towels are also recommended by dementia care specialists as safe oral alternatives, but they absorb saliva, harbor bacteria quickly, and need frequent laundering. However, a chew tool only works if the patient will actually use it — and if someone is available to redirect them toward it. A patient left unsupervised will chew whatever is nearest, which is often their chair, their clothing, or their bedding. This is why material selection for cushions and seating is a separate but equally important question. The chew tool addresses the behavior; the cushion material addresses the environment.
What CertiPUR-US Certification Actually Means for Seat Cushions
CertiPUR-US certified foams are tested to be free from ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP and TCEP flame retardants, formaldehyde, mercury, lead, heavy metals, and phthalates. This certification is the baseline standard caregivers should look for when selecting seat cushions, wheelchair cushions, or bed pillows for a patient who mouths objects. It is widely available — many mainstream foam products carry the certification — and it meaningfully reduces the chemical exposure risk compared to uncertified foam. The important caveat is that CertiPUR-US certification limits specific harmful chemicals but does not guarantee the foam is completely non-toxic if ingested. The certification was designed for sleep and seating surfaces, not for oral contact. A patient who is actively biting off and swallowing pieces of foam faces choking and gastrointestinal risks regardless of the foam’s chemical profile.
No foam certification makes foam safe to eat. This is a critical distinction that marketing language sometimes obscures. CertiPUR-US foam is safer to be near, to sit on, and to occasionally mouth. It is not safe to consume. For families choosing between a standard discount-store cushion and a CertiPUR-US certified one, the certified option is worth the higher price for any patient with mouthing behaviors. But the cushion cover matters just as much as the fill, because the cover is what the patient’s mouth actually contacts.
Institutional Fabrics and Covers That Memory Care Facilities Actually Use
Memory care facilities do not use the same cushion covers you find at a furniture store. Institutional dementia care seating typically uses covers that comply with BS5852 Crib 5 fire retardancy regulations with built-in fire-resistant internal layers. The preferred covering material in many facilities is four-way stretch Dartex fabric, which is soft, breathable, durable, and moisture-blocking. This fabric resists the constant exposure to saliva, incontinence, and cleaning chemicals that dementia care furniture endures. The tradeoff with institutional fabrics is that they feel different from what a patient is accustomed to at home.
Dartex and similar moisture-resistant fabrics have a slightly clinical feel compared to cotton or microfiber upholstery. Some patients find the texture unfamiliar and may actually mouth it more out of sensory curiosity. Others find it less appealing to chew than softer fabrics, which can be an advantage. The Airospring AS120 PRO is one example of a dementia-friendly pressure cushion that uses patented XD spacer fabric and outperforms both memory foam and pressure-relieving gel for pressure redistribution, while being designed with the durability and cleanability that dementia care requires. For home caregivers who cannot access institutional-grade furniture, a practical middle ground is to use removable, washable cushion covers made from tightly woven, moisture-resistant fabric over CertiPUR-US certified foam. This combination addresses both the chemical safety of the fill and the durability and hygiene of the surface the patient actually contacts.
Fidget Cushions and Sensory Pillows — A Choking Hazard Warning
Activity and fidget pillows are widely marketed for dementia patients and can serve a genuine therapeutic purpose. Products like the sensory activity pillows available through the Alzheimer’s Store incorporate buttons, buckles, Velcro, ribbons, and textured materials intended to redirect fidgeting and restless hand behavior into safe tactile stimulation. The theory is sound: give a patient something engaging to do with their hands, and they may be less likely to mouth other objects. The problem is that these products were designed for patients who fidget, not necessarily for patients who chew. Standard fidget pillows include small attachments — buttons, beads, clasps — that pose choking hazards for patients who mouth objects.
A patient with pica will not limit their interaction to touching and manipulating these attachments. They will put them in their mouth. For a patient with known mouthing behaviors, fidget pillows should only be used under direct supervision, and any small removable parts should be eliminated before the pillow is introduced. A safer alternative is a plain fleece or soft cotton pillow without attachments, which provides tactile comfort without the choking risk. This is a broader pattern in dementia care products: items designed for one behavioral symptom can be dangerous for patients with a different or overlapping symptom. Always evaluate products based on the specific behaviors your patient exhibits, not based on general dementia marketing.
What Experts Recommend Beyond Material Selection
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration published a care partner guide in March 2024 on oral behaviors, recommending that caregivers modify clothing to remove chewable elements such as buttons, offer safe alternatives for oral stimulation, and consult speech therapists or occupational therapists for individualized strategies. Their helpline, 1.866.507.7222, connects caregivers with specialists who understand these behaviors. Dementia care specialists across multiple organizations recommend a toolkit approach to safe oral alternatives: sugar-free gum, lollipops, soft washcloths, soft fleece hand towels, and commercially available oral motor products — all used under supervision.
The material selection question is ultimately one piece of a larger care strategy. The safest cushion in the world does not eliminate the need for environmental modification, behavioral redirection, and clinical consultation. For some patients, pharmacological intervention with trazodone or SSRIs may reduce the mouthing behavior enough that material safety becomes less critical. For others, the behavior persists regardless of medication, and the environment must be made as safe as possible around the patient’s needs.
Where Dementia-Safe Material Design Is Heading
The intersection of dementia care and material science is still a niche field, but it is growing. Manufacturers like ARK Therapeutic have expanded from pediatric oral motor tools into products explicitly designed for adult use, reflecting growing awareness that mouthing behaviors are not limited to children.
Institutional furniture companies are increasingly designing for the specific demands of memory care environments, where durability, cleanability, and safety must coexist with comfort and dignity. The next meaningful advance will likely be antimicrobial cushion covers that are both moisture-resistant and soft enough to feel homelike, paired with foam fills that carry certifications beyond CertiPUR-US — potentially including oral contact safety ratings. Until then, the best approach remains layered: CertiPUR-US certified foam inside, moisture-resistant institutional-grade fabric outside, and medical-grade silicone chew tools within reach as a dedicated safe outlet for oral stimulation.
Conclusion
For Alzheimer’s patients who chew objects, no single material solves every problem. Medical-grade silicone from manufacturers like ARK Therapeutic is the safest choice for anything a patient will put directly in their mouth. For the cushions and seating they use daily, CertiPUR-US certified foam covered with moisture-resistant, durable fabric like Dartex provides the best balance of chemical safety, hygiene, and longevity. Fidget pillows with small attachments should be avoided or heavily modified for patients with mouthing behaviors due to choking risks.
The practical next step for any caregiver is to audit the patient’s environment with mouthing in mind. Identify what the patient most frequently chews, replace or cover those items with safer materials where possible, introduce a medical-grade silicone chew tool as a dedicated alternative, and consult with an occupational therapist or speech therapist who can develop an individualized strategy. The AFTD helpline at 1.866.507.7222 is a concrete resource for caregivers navigating these behaviors. Safe material selection is not a cure for pica or hyperorality, but it meaningfully reduces the risk of harm while these behaviors are being managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe for an Alzheimer’s patient to chew on memory foam?
Standard memory foam may contain harmful chemicals including formaldehyde, flame retardants, and phthalates. CertiPUR-US certified foam eliminates many of these chemicals but is still not designed for oral contact. If a patient is regularly chewing their cushion, cover it with a moisture-resistant fabric and provide a medical-grade silicone chew tool as a safer alternative.
What is the difference between medical-grade and food-grade silicone?
Medical-grade silicone meets stricter purity and biocompatibility standards than food-grade silicone, though both are free from BPA and phthalates. For patients who chew aggressively or for extended periods, medical-grade silicone products like those from ARK Therapeutic offer the highest safety margin. Food-grade silicone chew jewelry is a reasonable alternative for lighter mouthing behaviors.
Can medication stop an Alzheimer’s patient from chewing on objects?
Trazodone and SSRIs such as fluvoxamine have shown efficacy in reducing hyperorality and pica behaviors in Alzheimer’s patients. However, medication does not eliminate the behavior in all patients, and it should be discussed with the patient’s physician as part of a comprehensive care plan rather than relied on as the sole intervention.
Are fidget pillows safe for dementia patients who put things in their mouths?
Not without modification. Standard fidget pillows include buttons, beads, buckles, and clasps that are choking hazards for patients who mouth objects. If using a fidget pillow with a patient who has pica or hyperorality, remove all small detachable parts and use it only under direct supervision.
How often should chew tools be cleaned for a dementia patient?
Medical-grade silicone chew tools from ARK Therapeutic are dishwasher safe and can also be cleaned in hot water or a sterilizer. For a patient using the tool throughout the day, cleaning after each use session or at minimum twice daily is recommended to prevent bacterial buildup.
How common is chewing behavior in dementia patients?
Pica occurs in approximately 10% of Alzheimer’s disease patients, typically in late-stage disease. Hyperorality is significantly more common in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, where it is observed in over 50% of individuals. The prevalence means this is not a rare or unusual behavior, and caregivers should plan for it proactively.
