Mouth Care in children
Mouth care is important especially in children who receive chemotherapy. It has to be done on a daily basis
Most children are able to cope up with it themselves, but some may experience severe weakness and might need help.
Look below for the procedure
Equipment required
- Tray
- Mouthwash
- Cups
- Receiver or bowl
- Paper tissue
- Spatula
- Toothbrush with paste
- Gloves
- Torch
Procedure
- Explain the procedure to the patient and the attender
- Wash hands with bactericidal soap. Put on the gloves
- Request the child to sit for this procedure.
- Do a oral assessment by inspecting the mouth, tongue, teeth, inside of the cheek, the floor of mouth and
palate - Enquire if the patient complains of taste changes or dry mouth or difficult in swallowing or pain
- Use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste to brush the teeth
- Hold the bristle against the teeth with bristles at 45 degree angle
- Move the bristles back and forth and circular motion. Start off with the upper set of teeth on one side, then move to the other side.
- Similarly, complete the lower set of teeth as well.
- Repeat until all the teeth have been covered
- Clean the biting surface of the teeth as well by similar strokes
- After brushing give the child a beaker of clean water to rinse and void the contents into a receiver
- Apply artificial saliva to the tongue if dry
- Clean and dry the toothbrush
- Wash hands and document in the notes