Mouth assessment

4×4 gauze pad, penlight, tongue depressor, gloves

equipment for mouth

Circumoral Pallor

pale area around the mouth (anemia)

Bluish (Cyanotic) Lips

oxygenation problems; cardiac arrest

Reddish Lips

liver problems; carbon monoxide problems

Cheilosis

an inflammatory condition that causes cracking, crusting , and scaling of the corners of the mouth

Herpes simplex

crust (STI)

cleft lip

congenital

Note number, color, condition & alignment of teeth; examine gums for color & consistency

teeth and gums

dental carries

tooth decay

malocclusion

the teeth are not aligned properly

gingivitis

earliest stage of gum disease; inflammation

receding gums

gums atrophy

Gingival Hyperplasia

an overgrowth of gum tissue around the teeth

Note color & consistency; examine Stenson’s ducts/parotid gland

buccal mucosa

Aphthous Ulcer

canker sore, “luas”

koplik spots

peculiar spots present on the buccal mucosa, whitish spots and be scrapped off; measles.

ventral surface, frenulum, area under tongue, Wharton’s ducts & sides of tongue

5 things to examine in the tongue

ventral surface

describe the image

dorsal image

describe the image

fissured duct

dehydration

black, hairy tongue

s/e of antibiotics, fungi growth

Smooth, reddish, shiny tongue w/o papillae

(“beefy red tongue”) - pernicious anemia

Leukoplakia

precancerous lesion, whitish patch and painless

Carcinoma of the tongue

form of ulcer and tongue CA

Candida Albicans Infection (Oral Thrush)

condition in which the fungus candida albicans accumulates on the lining of your mouth; scraped off leads to bleeding

Note color & integrity of soft & hard palate

palate

Torus Palatinus

is a harmless, painless bony growth located on the roof of the mouth (hard palate); Native Americans

cleft palate

Diabetic ketoacidosis

implication of Fruity or Acetone Breath

Kidney Disease

implication of Ammonia odor

Oral or respiratory infection or tooth decay

implication of Foul odor

End-stage liver disease

implication of Sulfur odor (“fetor hepaticus”)

Note characteristics & positioning

uvula

note color, size & presence of swelling,exudate or lesions

tonsils

Tonsillitis

inflammation of tonsil (palantine) with yellowish exudate

Note color & presence of exudate or lesions

Oropharynx or posterior pharyngeal wall