Small Steps, Big Impact: Oral Care in the Hospital Setting
🦷 Oral care is often overlooked in busy hospital environments—but it plays a powerful role in preventing hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Research shows that bacteria from the mouth can be aspirated into the lungs, increasing infection risk, especially for older, dependent, or medically fragile patients.
When oral health is prioritized, patient outcomes improve, hospital stays shorten, and complications decrease. Oral care isn’t just comfort care—it’s preventive nursing care.
🚨 What to Know About Oral Health in the Hospital
Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of hospital-acquired and aspiration pneumonia
Dental plaque harbors harmful bacteria that can travel to the lungs
Consistent oral care reduces non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP)
Nurses play a key role in oral health assessment and infection prevention
Oral care should be routine, standardized, and documented
💡 Top 5 Ways to Improve Oral Care (For Nurses & Everyone)
Make oral care a daily priority, not an afterthought
Assess the mouth regularly—lips, tongue, teeth, gums, and moisture
Use toothbrushes with toothpaste when appropriate (not just swabs)
Educate patients and families on the oral-systemic health connection
Document oral care clearly to support continuity and accountability
Evidence-based oral care lowers pneumonia risk and improves patient outcomes. Learn more from the CDC.
✨ Ready to Go Deeper? Turn Mouth Care Into Powerful Nursing Care!
Nurses—earn 1.0 CEU and strengthen your oral health assessment skills with: “The Nursing Touch: Improving Oral Health Assessments for Total Patient Care”
👉 Visit www.joyfulsprouts.com/courses to learn more and get started today!
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