A rationale for mouth care: the integration of theory with practice.

摘要: Mouth care is a commonly performed nursing procedure in which the aim to ensure that patients' mouths are cared for. However, there evidence unless dental plaque removed from tooth surfaces and gingival margin, mouth danger of becoming unhealthy and, therefore, uncared It appears literature use toothbrush one best most widely used tools Western world for removing (Addy, Slayne & Wade 1992), other methods being ineffective, dangerous, or poorly researched (Trenter-Roth Creason 1986). review indicates toothbrushes not choice by nurses (Howarth 1977, Harris 1980). Thus, be gulf between knowledge base reality practice resulting 'mouth care' misleading misnomer. The this paper present rationale based upon apply such practice, especially intensive therapy units (ITUs), so may better position provide lives up its name.