Mouth Care

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Symptoms

Mouth Care

MOUTH CARE

Maintaining oral hygiene is important

Dry mouth can be uncomfortable and interfere with eating and drinking

Common Causes of Dry Mouth/Discomfort – Pain
Medication side effects
(Click here for partial list)

Dry air

Mouth breathing

Dehydration

Infection
Candida (Thrush) can result from use of Steroids, Antibiotics
Herpes.

Ulcerations from prior chemo/medications, underlying conditions

Poorly fitting or dirty dentures

What You Can Do
Do not stop any medications without asking Hospice Team
Check if dentures still fit, may not as illness progresses
Keep dentures clean
Keep lips moist – Chapstick, Vaseline
Xylimelts™ (available at Walgreens, Amazon)
Discuss with Hospice Team if it is ok to use a humidifier in the room if the air is too dry

Medications
A
While there is a long list of medications that can dry out the mouth, it is very important to not stop
any medications without asking the Hospice Team

B
There are mouth swabs that are available to clean mouth when brushing teeth becomes difficult.
Ask Hospice Team

C
If infection is found, there are often safe and effective medications

What to discuss with the Hospice Team
A
Is the patient dehydrated? Is it ok to give more fluids

B
Have team check to see if there is an infection &/or mouth sores

C
You are concerned about possible medication side effects and want to know if any should be
stopped or decreased