The Importance Of Oral Hygiene

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Nurses need to learn about oral hygiene to assist the dependent older adult patients. A common understanding of oral hygiene helps establish what oral care should consist of. Once a nurse learns what oral care should consist of, they are able to help their patients by encouraging better oral hygiene. It is important to assist the dependent older adult with oral hygiene care because of the consequences of poor oral hygiene. Additionally, there are risks for older adults when it comes to oral hygiene because of the physiological changes their body is going through. Improving health care workers’ knowledge of oral hygiene can potentially better patient care outcomes. Nurses should have a universal, observable way of describing patient oral hygiene care. This would allow nurses to show how oral hygiene impacts patient outcomes and could help develop protocols in regards to oral hygiene. It is important to have a common understanding of oral hygiene to avoid miscommunication between nurses and other health care professionals. A common definition of oral hygiene could also provide a better learning environment for new students and nurses. Proper oral hygiene care begins with understanding what oral hygiene consists of. There are many things that nurses can address in regards …show more content…

The antecedents include nurses being aware, knowledgeable, and accurate when it comes to oral health, and having a positive attitude towards oral care. Along with these things, nurses have to be able to work with others, know how to perform oral hygiene tasks, know the protocols, and have the equipment. Some consequences of oral hygiene include things like prevention of infections, diseases, oral discomfort, and oral candidiasis. Also, it enhances psychosocial and functional well-being. If nurses have the correct knowledge of oral care, then their patients might be able to avoid some of the consequences of poor oral

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