Oral Care for Acutely and Critically Ill Patients

Scope and Impact of the Problem

Nurse-administered oral hygiene is considered to be an important intervention in acutely ill hospitalized patients who cannot provide their own oral care. Oral care provides patients’ comfort, reduces dental plaque and mucosal inflammation, and promotes oral health. The prevalence of hospital-acquired infection is a significant concern in acutely and critically ill patients; in combination with other strategies, oral hygiene can contribute to the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in intubated patients.