A Systematic Oral Care Program in Post-Mechanically Ventilated, Post-Intensive Care Patients

he intervention proposed would include a 4-5 day systematic oral hygiene program. Using a pea-sized amount of Colgate Total Clean Mint Toothpaste with a Battery-operated Oral-B Pro-Health Type 3744 toothbrush, all surfaces, tongue-side, check-side, and biting surfaces of the participants teeth will be brushed. The tongue will be brushed with a GUM Dual Action Tongue Cleaner and flossing will be done with GUM Flossmate handle and Oral B Guide Floss in between the contacts of each tooth. The mouth will then be rinsed with Crest Pro-Health mouthwash rinse for 30 seconds twice daily. A Medline Remedy Phytoplex lip balm will then be applied.

Standard of Care oral care. Currently, the intensive care units utilize a commercially available pre-package oral hygiene kit. This includes mouthwash swabbing every 2 hours with Careline Alcohol-Free mouthwash or Sage Alcohol Free mouthwash, teeth brushing (with Sage Toothette Oral Care, Sodium Bicarbonate Toothpaste and Sage Suction Toothbrush) every 12 hours, deep oral suctioning every 8 hours and prior to oral Endotracheal tube (ET) retaping, and Paroex Oral Rinse chlorohexidine gluconate (15ml) swabbed onto oral surfaces every 12 hours (SICU patients only). Mouth care is documented every two hours.