What Not to Do with Oral Swabs
We take for granted everyday hygiene tasks like brushing our teeth. However when illness or injury strikes, suddenly what was a mindless task now requires thought, preparation and a special setup. For my patients with dysphagia, I cannot stress enough the importance of your oral hygiene. Said another way, oral hygiene = oral care.
In a sense, oral hygiene is a form of infection control. It is a way to manage oral bacteria so that it doesn’t get out of hand. Good oral hygiene helps contain the spread of harmful oral bacteria. Oral care for someone with dysphagia also helps keep teeth in good health. We all love a beautiful smile, but teeth aren’t just for cosmetic reasons. They allow us to eat a variety of food textures, which helps to ensure adequate nutrition.
So what does all of this have to do with oral swabs? Ok, let’s talk about it. Strokes often cause facial drooping, lip weakness and tongue weakness. These changes contribute to swallowing problems. At some point, people who had a stroke and now have dysphagia, they get introduced to oral swabs. Further, they may even get told to only clean their mouth with sponges because somehow it’s supposed to be easier. It goes something like this:
“Oh, just dip the sponge in mouthwash and clean your mouth with it.”
Sounds harmless, right? There is a problem though. People end up replacing their toothbrushes and only use the soft, spongy oral swabs instead. However, oral swabs are not meant to brush your teeth! They can absolutely be a part of your oral hygiene– but they’re not good enough to be the only part of your oral care. If you are an adult with dysphagia, this is especially true.
When we accumulate film and plaque on our teeth near the gum line, a soft sponge just doesn’t cut it. We need the bristles of a toothbrush to agitate all of that yuck and get it off. A soft bristled brush will do, an electric toothbrush is even better if possible. Just because I’m recommending a toothbrush as your main tool in oral care, doesn’t mean that I don’t use oral swabs for patients with dysphagia.
So by now you may be wondering, is an oral swab useful for anything??? Absolutely!
Dry mouth?
Dip a swab in water and use it to moisten your lips, as well as the tissues in your mouth. Aaaah, this feels so good for people with very dry mouths. Don’t forget to seal in the moisture with a nice lip balm.
Pocketing food in your cheek while you eat?
Use a swab to clear out food from inside your cheek. If your tongue is weak because of a stroke, it can be annoying or difficult to sweep food out of your cheek as you eat. I want to encourage to you try and use your tongue anyway. Use those muscles so you can improve them! After you try with your tongue first, then go in with the oral swab to clear out what remains.
Do you need more specific oral care tips for yourself, or a loved one with dysphagia? Then get in touch today! I offer one on one dysphagia therapy, caregiver training, and I have a swallowing wellness program in the making.
