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ExamReady CNA
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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•15 steps•1 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

  • All tooth surfaces and the tongue, gently. This is the only bold step.
  • Sit them up first: upright, 75 to 90 degrees.
  • Basin to the chin before the rinse, not after.

Common mistakes

  • Brushing only the front teeth. The critical step requires all surfaces and the tongue.
  • Skipping the tongue. It is named in the critical step.
  • Brushing roughly. The checklist says gentle motions, and rough brushing can hurt the gums.
  • Starting with the resident lying flat. Rinse water is harder to swallow or spit safely, and choking is a risk.