In essence, mouth care is far more than routine—it’s a critical healthcare intervention that safeguards oral and overall health, ensures safety, respects dignity, and fosters early detection of health issues.

1. Prevents Infection & Promotes Oral Health
Thorough brushing of teeth, gumline, and tongue helps remove plaque and food debris—critical for preventing cavities, gum disease, and systemic infections, especially in residents unable to perform independent oral hygiene.

2. Ensures Safety and Comfort
Proper positioning—such as elevating the head of the bed—prevents choking and aspiration. Using gentle strokes and providing towels or drapes safeguard clothing and enhance resident comfort.

3. Supports Infection Control Standards
Mouth care is a bodily-fluid exposure task. Using gloves, disposing of waste properly, and washing hands before and after care are essential to reduce the spread of pathogens.

4. Upholds Dignity and Person-Centered Care
Introducing yourself, explaining each step, and maintaining privacy show respect and help residents feel valued and at ease during a very personal care activity.

5. Facilitates Early Detection of Problems
Performing mouth care gives caregivers an opportunity to notice issues like sores, bleeding, bad breath, or cracked lips—early signs of infection or nutritional deficiencies that require reporting.

You will need the following to Provide Mouth Care to a Resident with Teeth: 

• Barrier
• Towel
• Gloves
• Toothbrush
• Emesis Basin
• Toothpaste
• Cup of Water

1. Preparation & Hand Hygiene

• Read and follow the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Knock and announce yourself before entering.
• Greet the Resident by name and introduce yourself.
• Explain the task to the Resident and ensure their comfort and consent.
• Elevate the Head of the Bed so that Resident is sitting up.
• Ensure Resident is Seated properly in Bed
  • Sitting up Straight
  • Not slouching
  • Use pillows to assist Resident in sitting up straight as necessary. 
• Ensure Resident Comfort.
• Close the Privacy Curtain
• Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning.
• Gather your supplies
  • Do Not allow supplies to touch your Uniform. 
  • Do Not touch supplies until your hands are clean.
• Place Barrier on Bedside table.
• Place Supplies on Barrier.
• Assess Glove Rules (Are Gloves required for this Resident?)

2. Performing Mouth Care

• Wet toothbrush
• Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the toothbrush
• Set toothbrush in Emesis Basin.
• Place towel over Resident’s clothing to protect it. 
• Apply your Gloves
• Ask Resident to open wide, so that you may begin brushing the Resident’s Teeth. 
• Gently Brush Resident’s Teeth AND Gum line ensuring you cover all areas.
• Ask Resident to bring their teeth together, and brush front teeth.
• Ask Resident to stick their tongue out, brush Resident’s tongue. 
• Offer Resident a sip of water to rinse. 
• Hold Emesis Basin under Resident’s chin as they Rinse, so that they may spit the rinse water out. 
• Using Clothing Cover, wipe Resident’s face of any toothpaste or water. 
• Offer Additional Rinse water sips
• Repeat as necessary for Resident.

3. Supply Disposal

• Pour remaining rinse water into Emesis Basin. 
• Place Toothbrush, wrapper and rinse water cup into the garbage. 
• Remove Clothing cover and place in dirty linen. 
• Dump Emesis Basin into Sink.
• Clean Emesis Basin per facility guidelines.
• Use a paper towel to grab Emesis Basin.
• Using another paper towel, dry the Emesis Basin 
• Place Emesis Basin and toothpaste in Bedside drawer.
• Dispose of Barrier and paper towels in garbage.
• Remove and dispose of Gloves. 

4. Addressing Resident Comfort & Closing

• Ensure Resident is comfortable.
• Ensure Resident is sitting properly in bed.
• Ask about Resident needs and preferences.
• Provide Resident with Call light.
• Open Privacy Curtain and ensure bed is in lowest position.
• Thoroughly wash your hands.
• Think about the Steps of your Skill. Make any corrections. Tell the evaluator your Skills is complete

• Not reading and following the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Not greeting Resident or describing Task. 
• Not raising head of bed/performing mouth care on lying Resident.
• Not providing a Clothing Cover.
• Not wearing Gloves throughout skill.
• Providing Mouth Care with unwashed hands. 
• Not wetting toothbrush.
• Applying too much toothpaste.
• Not offering a Rinse cup. 
• Not offering an Emesis Basin for spitting the rinse water
• Brushing too quickly/aggressively
• Not brushing all areas of Resident’s Mouth.
• Leaving Resident with toothpaste /water on their face. 
• Not properly cleaning/storing supplies. 
• Not returning bed to lowest position at end of skill.