This essay will describe the nurse’s role in relation to promoting the adult clients oral health. As a nurse will have to promote or provide oral care for a client, it is essential for the nurse to have an understanding of the physiology and anatomy of the mouth. This essay begins by briefly describing the basic structure, functions of the mouth, and then describes the nurse’s role in promoting oral hygiene to the non-dependant patient, and the assessment and oral care provided by the nurse for a dependant patient while taking into consideration legislation that must be adhered to by the nurse. The essay will also describe the nurse’s role in assessing and promotion of good oral care and health in a patient who will be receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer or other serious illness.
Waugh and Grant (2007) state that the digestive system begins with the mouth. The mouth, consists of hard palate, soft palate, lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, and salivary glands these parts of the mouth have a mucous membrane that covers them, this protects the inner mouth. The adult mouth consists of thirty-two teeth. The teeth and saliva that is excreted from the salivary glands helps break down food making it small enough to swallow. Waugh and Grant (2007) state that saliva is also essential for tasting food, keeping the mouth moist and cleaning the mouth cavity and gums. Waugh (2007) explains that not only is the mouth the beginning of the digestive system, it is also responsible for verbal and non-verbal communication and is part of the respiratory system.
Waugh (2007) states that good oral care and hygiene is necessary in both a healthy and a very ill person. It can also help prevent infection in the mouth, and if a patient develops problems it can affect the way they think others see them. It can affect the way they feel and raise or lower their self-esteem accordingly. This could have an adverse