Oral hygiene

 

 Oral hygiene is important in the well being of patients. It can help to minimise distress,

maintain the dignity of the patient, reduce the risk of oral infection, decay resulting in pain

and suffering. 

 

 One of the most vital step in oral health is brushing the teeth twice a day, a small

headed brush can be used and in patients who have sore mouths, soft brushes can be used.

It is recommended that toothpaste which contains 1000ppm fluoride should be used, but if

patients are unable to tolerate toothpaste, using water as an alternative may help.

In patients who cannot rinse their mouths, an non-foaming alternative can be used such as

chlorhexidine gel. 

 

 

 

Dentures:

•  In patients who wear plastic dentures, it should be removed from the oral cavity

at night and soaked in a solution of sodium hypochorite (diluted) to be disinfected and

 rinsed under water before use the following day.

•  Dentures that contain metal should be soaked in chlorhexidine as sodium hypochloride cause discolouration of the meta parts.

• Self help: chewing pineapple may help as it contains cleansing enzyme (ananase) which 

help remove debris in the teeth and rinsing of the mouth following a meal.