Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

Registered Mental Health Nursing (RMN)

ASSISTING AN OVERACTIVE PATIENT TO CLEAN THE MOUTH

This is the act of assisting an excited patient to clean and maintain his/her oral hygiene. 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

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
  • Bowl for dentures
  • 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 the procedure to the 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
  • Perform hand hygiene and don gloves
  • Remove and place dentures in a bowl if any and inspect mouth
  • Give patient some water to rinse the mouth into sink/receiver
  • Give patient brush with paste of choice or chewing stick or sponge
  • Supervise patient to clean teeth, tongue and the inner cheeks properly and assist where necessary
  • Give patient water to rinse mouth into sink/receiver
  • Provide mouth wash if available
  • Apply lip balm to the lips if dried or cracked
  • Clean dentures, rinse and replace them
  • Remove protective material
  • Express appreciation to patient and direct him/her to the next activity
  • Remove screen, clear tray, disinfect 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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