Oral Care

Oral care is one of the many procedures that residents must perform every day in order to stay clean and promote a positive self-image. Many of the residents may have body impairments and as a result they need assistance in cleaning their mouth. This includes brushing of their teeth and/or dentures.

Dentures are replacement for lost teeth in order to retain the shape of their mouth and to be able to eat properly.

When you are cleaning the resident’s dentures, always handle them with care and clean them properly. These false teeth can also be damaged if not cleaned properly. Like real teeth, they should also be brushed and always use warm water to rinse them in order to avoid damage.

After cleaning the dentures, place them in a designated container wherein the name of the dentures’ owner is printed.

Always take precautionary measures to prevent any damage on the dentures or accidental loss that can upset the resident. Loosing dentures is costly and it also endangers the resident to possible nutritional deficiencies due to inability to chew food properly. See the clinical checklist on how to care for dentures

As the growth of germs in the mouth causes bad breath and many mouth diseases, tooth brushing should be done at least 2 times a day or as often as possible depending on the resident’s condition.

Residents who are unconscious will also need proper oral hygiene in order to avoid various oral diseases. If you are giving oral care to these residents, position them in a semi-fowler’s or moderate high back rest and turn their head to the side so that fluid will not be aspirated but instead drained during the care.

Use a swab or any recommended equipment to clean the mouth and the mucous membranes. Perform frequent oral care as needed in order to remove secretions and keep the mouth clean and hydrated.