Registered Mental Health Nursing (RMN)
ASSISTING A HYPOACTIVE PATIENT TO CLEAN THE MOUTH
This is the act of helping the less active, withdrawn and retarded patient to clean and maintain his/her oral hygiene. The hypoactive patient usually does not see the need to maintain his/her oral hygiene even though mouth care is an essential activity of daily living.
Purpose
- Remove daily dental plaques
- Boost self confidence
- Boost appetite
- Prevent halitosis and other infections
- Keep the lips and mucosa soft and clean
- Encourage patient to resume daily activities
Equipment
- A tray containing the following:
- Tooth paste and tooth brush or chewing stick/sponge
- Water in a plastic cup
- Receiver if there is no sink
- Mouth wash
- Protective material
- Lip balm
- Paper tissue
- Examination gloves
- Face mask
- Goggles
- Running tap and sink
- Screen
- Assisting nurse(s)
Procedure steps
- Establish rapport (refer procedure)
- Explain procedure to patient
- Discuss with patient the preferred tooth paste and brush or chewing stick/sponge to be used
- Provide privacy and call for assistance when necessary
- Prepare tray to be used for the procedure
- Coax patient to the bathroom/appropriate place using persuasion and minimum force
- Sit patient on a chair/stool or allow patient to stand as desired
- Sit/stand in front of the patient where necessary
- Place protective material under patient’s chin
- Give patient some water to rinse the mouth into sink/receiver
- Assist patient to brush with paste of choice or chewing stick/sponge
- Encourage and assist patient to clean the teeth, tongue and inner cheeks properly
- Give patient water to rinse mouth into sink/receiver
- Provide mouth wash if available
- Give tissue paper to patient and assist him/her to wipe the lips
- Inspect patient’s mouth for any abnormality (stomatitis, coated tongue etc.)
- Apply lip balm to the lips if dried or cracked
- Remove protective material
- Express appreciation to patient and direct him/her to the next activity
- Remove screen, clear tray, decontaminate used items and perform hand hygiene
- Document procedure, report any abnormalities and indicate patient’s level of co-operation in the nurses’ notes/patient’s folder
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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