Oral hygiene involves maintaining cleanliness of the mouth to prevent disease spread and increase patient comfort. It refers to caring for teeth, tongue, palate, cheeks and lips to keep them healthy. Poor oral hygiene can lead to issues like bad breath, infections, and gum disease. The purposes of oral hygiene are to prevent infections, keep the mouth fresh, prevent tooth decay and infections, and stimulate salivation and circulation. It should be performed for patients who cannot do it themselves, are unconscious, have local mouth diseases, or are postoperative or on ventilators. Proper techniques include regular brushing, flossing, avoiding sharing brushes, and a balanced diet.

1. ORAL HYGIENE
Prepared by
Sutha.s
tutor

2. INTRODUCTION
• Oral hygiene means maintaining the cleanliness of the mouth it includes
prevent the spread of disease from the mouth and increase the comfort of
the patient

3. DEFENITION
• Oral hygiene refers to the caring for teeth, tongue,palate,cheeks,and lips to
maintain their healthy state

4. PROBLEMS OF UNHYGIENIC ORAL CAVITY
• halitosis
• Local infection
• Gingivitis
• Cheilosis
• Stomatitis
• Glossitis

5. PURPOSE OF ORAL HYGIENE
• To prevent and treat mouth infections
• To keep the mouth fresh and clean
• To prevent dental carries and tooth decay
• To prevent sores which resulting from ulceration
• To stimulate salivation and increase appetite
• To stimulate circulation in gums and maintain health firmness
• To prevent further infections eg;stomatitis,glossitis

6. INDICATIONS
• Unconscious patient
• Helpless patient
• Dehydrated patient
• Patient who or not taking oral feeds
• patient having local disease of mouth
• Post operative patients
• Patient on mechanical ventilator

7. POINTS TO REMEMBER IN ORAL HYGIENE
• Keep the mouth and teeth clean after each meal
• Brushing of teeth is to be done at least two times a day morning and
night
• Do not share brushes
• Avoid vigorous flossing near gum line
• Flossing needs to be done once a day
• Advice the patients to avoid alcohol and smoking
• Eat well balanced diet

8. ARTICLES
A sterile tray containing:
• Thumb forceps
• Artery forceps
• Tongue depressor
• Sterile bowl
• Sterile cotton balls
• Gauze piece
A clean tray containing:
Kidney tray-1
Face towel-1
Small pillow and mackintosh-1
Liquid paraffin – to lubricate the lips

9. SOLUTIONS USED
• Potassium permanganate ( 1 crystal to a glass of water)
• Sodium chloride( 1 tspoon to a pint of water)
• Pottasium chloride 4 to 6 percent
• Hydrogen peroxide 1:8 solution

10. PROCEDURE
procedure rationale
Explain the procedure to the patient To enhance co operation
Wash hands and wear gloves Prevents cross infection , protect the nurse
Keep the articles arranged at the bed side for easy usage
Provide privacy
To promote mental and physical comfort

11. Position the on right lateral position with head turned well
towards the side
Allows secretions to drain from mouth instead of
collecting and prevents aspiration
Place towel with pillow mackintosh over the clients chest
and shoulder and k basin under chin
Prevents soiling of bed linen
Carefully separate upper and lower teeth and insert
padded tongue depressor quickly but gently between back
molars
Provide access to oral cavity and prevents injury to the
oral mucosa
Clean mouth with non toothed artery forceps (cotton)
with hydrogen peroxide
clean outer tooth surfaces
swap roof of mouth, gums and inside cheeks
It removes food particles between teeth and oral cavity
Wipe the tongue with the gauze piece and lubricate the
lips with paraffin
Oated tongue causes thrush formation affects the taste
buds

12. Reposition the client comfortably Maintains clients safety and comfort
Clean equipment and return to its proper place To prevent spread of infection
Wash hands Reduces transmission of micro organisms
Record the observation ( bleeding gums dry
mucosa and ulceration)
Documentation helps to evaluate the clients
health status