All skills
Personal Care

Mouth Care

Brush teeth, gums, and tongue with a soft toothbrush. Use gentle circular motions. The resident is positioned to prevent aspiration. Lip moisturizer is the finishing touch.

5-10 minutes•10 steps•4 critical
Clean teeth, gums, and tongue — for a resident who can't do it themselves.

Why this matters

Clean teeth, gums, and tongue — for a resident who can't do it themselves.

Quick tips

  • Brush teeth, gums, AND tongue — don't skip the tongue
  • Position the resident to prevent choking (semi-Fowler's, head tilted)
  • Apply lip moisturizer at the end — graders love this detail

Common mistakes

  • Skipping the tongue or the gumline
  • Forgetting to moisturize the lips
  • Using forceful strokes (gentle is the rule)
  • Leaving the patient lying flat (aspiration risk)