d. Conscious Patients with Dentures.
(1)
General considerations.
(a) Many patients are sensitive or embarrassed about wearing
dentures; therefore, the patient's privacy should be respected when the dentures are
cleaned.
(b) Dentures must be handled carefully; they are fragile and expensive,
and the patient is handicapped without them.
(c) If the dentures are left out of the mouth for any period of time, place
them in a covered opaque container with the patient's name on the container.
(d) Dentures must be kept in water to preserve their fit and general
quality; the color may change if they become dry.
(e) You may avoid breaking the dentures while cleaning them by
holding them over a basin of water with a washcloth folded in the bottom.
(2)
Dentures are brushed in the same way as natural teeth; be sure to rinse
them well.
(3)
The denture cup should be labeled with the patient's name and room
number.
(4) Never use hot water to rinse the dentures as it could warp them; use
cool or lukewarm water.
(5) The patient's gums and soft tissues should be cared for at least twice
per day while the dentures are out of the mouth; a soft-bristled toothbrush, swab, or
gauze-covered tongue blade dipped in mouthwash should be used to cleanse the gums,
tongue, and soft tissues.
e. Patients With Mouth Complications. The following problems are common
in patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy:
(1)
(a) Observe the patient's mouth frequently for the amount of bleeding
present and the specific areas.
(b) Do not floss the patient's teeth; use a Water-pik.
(c)
Brush the teeth and clean the mouth using one of the following
methods:
MD0905
3-8