Importance of Oral Health in Patients Receiving Oxygen Therapy

This article discusses the importance of maintaining good oral health in patients receiving oxygen therapy. It provides tips on how to prevent dry mouth, dehydration, and other complications related to oral hygiene. The article also highlights the risks of poor oral hygiene and the need for frequent mouth washing. References are provided for further reading.

Running head: ORAL HEALTH
ORAL HEALTH
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

1ORAL HEALTH
1.
The oral status of the patient can be good index of the standard of care provided to the patients.
The patient should have their mouth moistened at least hourly with water or other moistening
agents and mouthwash. Water based lubricants can be provided to the lips for maintaining
hydration of the lips. The lubricating jellies gives relief to dry noses and lips by providing a
moisturizing effect to the nasal mucosa (Han et al. 2013). Alovera gels are also effective as
lubricating products. It is recommended not to use the petroleum based gels as they posses’ risks
of fire hazards involving the oxygen tanks. Dry throat and mouth can be treated by providing a
humidifier bottle with the oxygen concentrator. The humidifier bottles are connected to the
concentrator and force the oxygen through water. A humidifier is most useful if the patient is
using a transtracheal tube. It is necessary to use distilled or sterile water with the humidifier. This
provides moisture to the oxygen (Han et al. 2013). A room humidifier can also be provided in the
room of the patient such that the moisture, the patient is breathing in contains moisture. Oils of
seesame seeds can also be used for soothing the mucous membranes and hence can be applied to
the upper lips by using a clean cotton swab. Saline spray containing 0.9 % sodium chloride
solution can also be useful for rehydrating the mucous membrane of the throat and the nose
(Farrer 2012). Antihistamine medications can also be provided for reducing the irritation of the
nose and the throat.
2.

2ORAL HEALTH
Using of oxygen can dehydrate the mouth and the nostrils. It can cause irritation and generates
uncomfortable feeling within patients. Hence good oral hygiene is required. Dry mouth can lead
to several complications related to oral hygiene such as tooth decay and gum disease, fungal
infection in mouth, which can cause bad breath (Brill et al. 2015). Oral thrush may generate
whitish or yellowish plaques on the tongue and the surface of the teeth. Candida infection due to
dry mouth can be dangerous and can cause decay of tooth and bad breaths. Dehydrated lips can
create sores or split skins at the corners of the mouth that can be painful for the patients. Cracked
lips can be irritating and painful for patients and might face difficulties in chewing and
swallowing. Bleeding can be caused from the cracked lips. Other than drying, oxygen therapy
can produce unpleasant sense of taste in mouth and hence requires frequent mouth washing. Poor
oral hygiene may cause lose of teeth or tooth ache and hence can act as additional burden over
the patient.

3ORAL HEALTH
References
Brill, S.E. and Wedzicha, J.A., 2014. Oxygen therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
9, p.1241.
Farrer, F., 2012. Sprays and lozenges for sore throats. South African Family Practice, 54(2),
pp.26-31
Han, P., Suarez-Durall, P., and Mulligan, R., 2015. Dry mouth: a critical topic for older adult
patients. Journal of prosthodontic research, 59(1),pp 6-19.