Chapter 9: Mouth Care
Overview:
- Identifies what is important to consider when assessing a person’s oral health
- Includes a tabulated summary of the risk factors in oral health
- Discusses the provision of mouth care
- Includes a tabulated summary of equipment required for mouth care
- Provides a list of solutions and mouth lubricants used in oral health care
Description:
Oral health is compromised in persons with a gastrostomy tube, particularly those who have no oral intake. This chapter discusses the steps involved in assessing a person’s oral health, identifying risk factors and the provision of care to optimise oral health and minimize the development of mouth disorders associated with gastrostomy tubes.
Topics:
- Assessment of oral health
- Holistic approach
- Assessment tools
- Assessment process
- Identification of risk factors
- Providing mouth care
- Planning mouth care
- Frequency of mouth care
- Equipment for mouth care
- Cleaning solutions for mouth care
- Mouth lubricants
- Denture care
- Appendix 9.1
- Conclusion
Speaker / Author:
Raquel Rogers
Raquel is a registered nurse who holds a diploma of health science in nursing, a graduate diploma of advanced nursing (gerontic nursing), an advanced certificate of leadership and management, a certificate of continence management and a graduate diploma of advanced nursing (neurosciences). Raquel currently works at St Vincent’s Hospital (Melbourne, Australia) as part of the neuroscience team. She has previously worked as a nurse unit manager of a 30 bed chronic neurological disorders unit and as acting nurse unit manager in a 30 bed psychogeriatric unit. Raquel has also worked as an associate nurse unit manager where she was an active participant in the development of procedures and policies for tube feeding.
Julie Ryan
Julie is the senior nurse for the North-Western Aged Persons Mental Health Program in Melbourne (Australia). She holds a bachelor’s degree in applied science (nursing), a graduate diploma in advanced nursing (gerontic nursing), an advanced certificate of leadership and management and a certificate in psychiatric nursing. Julie is a member of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia. She has worked extensively with aged clients in general and psychiatric settings, including four years as manager of a 30 bed psychogeriatric facility. Julie’s current role encompasses staff education, policy development and monitoring of care standards and client outcomes. She is currently undertaking studies for a master’s degree in nursing, majoring in dementia care.
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