Oral health Flashcards
1
Q
What are oral health problems (5)
A
- Oral thrush
- Dental care
- Mouth ulcers
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Cold sores
2
Q
What problems are prevented or helped by good oral hygiene (3)
A
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease (gingivitis)
- Bad breath (halitosis)
3
Q
What is plaque (3)
A
- mixture of food particles, saliva and bacteria coating the teeth
- it hardens to form tartar that is difficult to remove
- Causes gum disease (gingivitis)
4
Q
What is periodontitis (3)
A
- Plaque is not removed
- the bone that holds the tooth in place can be destroyed
- teeth fall out
5
Q
What does fluoride do (4)
A
- strengthen enamel and prevent tooth decay.
- On occasion, white flecks may appear on the teeth even when recommended amounts of products are used.
- Rarely, yellowish-brown tooth discoloration can appear if more than the recommended amounts are used.
- Customers should be advised to speak to their doctor or dentist if they concerned about either of these.
6
Q
What can toothpastes contain (4)
A
- Fluorideto repair and prevent tooth decay
- Triclosanto kill bacteria
- Sodium pyrophosphateto stop plaque hardening
- Strontiumandpotassiumto reduce sensitivity
7
Q
What are mouthwashes (5)
A
- contain fluoride to help prevent tooth decay.
- They shouldn’t be used straight after brushing the teeth.
- Others containchlorhexidinethat may be used for gum disease/mouth infections
- chlorhexidine can stain the teeth and patients should follow directions for use carefully.
- Some mouthwashes need to be diluted before use, and customers should avoid swallowing them.
8
Q
What are fluoride supplements (6)
A
- for children with a high risk of decay.
- Fluoride drops
- Fluoride mouthwashes
- Fluoride varnishes
- Fluoride tablets
- should only be used under the supervision of a dentist, because too much fluoride can cause damage to the enamel.
9
Q
How are dentures cared for (5)
A
- they should be cleaned twice a day with toothpaste or denture cleaner on a soft-bristled toothbrush
- can be soaked in a fizzy solution of denture-cleaning tablets to remove stains and bacteria.
- They should be taken out at night to give the gums a rest and left soaking in water to prevent them from shrinking.
- Soaking is not a substitute for cleaning with a brush and toothpaste.
- You should advise anyone whose dentures have become loose to visit their dentist as soon as possible, and to only use denture fixatives or repair kits in an emergency.
10
Q
What causes bad breath (halitosis) and how is it treated (4)
A
- caused by poor oral hygiene that allows bacteria to thrive on food.
- Smoking can also be a cause of bad breath.
- You could recommend a mouthwash
- refer anyone to the pharmacist who suffers from bad breath despite trying a mouthwash and brushing their teeth properly. It could be a sign of a problem in the mouth or the digestive system.
11
Q
What are signs and clinical features/symptoms of mouth ulcers (6)
A
- Sores that appear either on the tongue, gums, floor of the mouth or the inside of the cheeks or lips.
- It is rare to get an ulcer on the roof of the mouth.
- They can be very painful but are not contagious.
- Round or oval shaped ulcer, often inflamed around the edges – pale yellow in colour.
- They normally last between 7-14 days.
- If they last longer than 3 weeks then the customer should see their GP/dentist.
12
Q
What are causes of mouth ulcers (6)
A
- Damage to the mouth for example by toothbrush, biting the cheek
- Hormonal changes
- Allergies
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies for example vitamin B12, iron
- Medicines for example NSAIDs
- Stress or feeling run down
13
Q
What treatment is there for mouth ulcers (7)
A
- mouthwashes
- gels
- pastilles.
- Local anaesthetics(benzocaine, lidocaine) - numb the ulcer.
- Steroids(Hydrocortisone muco-adhesive buccal tablets) - to reduce pain and inflammation.
- The buccal tablets should not be sucked and treatment is restricted to five days.
- Anti-inflammatories(benzydamine) - when ulcers are located in inaccessible areas or where there are several ulcers at the same time.
14
Q
What are special cautions for mouth ulcers (2)
A
- There is a risk of Reye’s Syndrome when oral salicylate gels are used in those under the age of 16 years.
- Anyone with an ulcer that is getting progressively worse or has lasted longer than 14 days should be referred to the pharmacist, as it may be a symptom of something more serious.
15
Q
what causes cold sores (2)
A
- the herpes simplex virus.
- it remains inactive in the body and may be triggered by different things in different people to cause a cold sore.
16
Q
What are the symptoms of cold sores (3)
A
- The first sign is a tingling or itching sensation on the skin.
- After a couple of days the area starts to weep and blister, is very painful, and then scabs over.
- They can last for 7-10 days.
17
Q
What treatments are there for cold sores (8)
A
- OTC antiviral creams (aciclovir)should be applied as soon as the tingling or itching is felt for them to be of any benefit.
- They cannot stop the cold sore from occurring, but can be used to limit the progress of it.
- used five times a day for five days and treatment may be continued for up to 10 days.
- soothing, antiseptic
- anaesthetic
- moisturising agents may help to relieve some of the pain and discomfort associated with the crusting and scabbing stages of cold sores.
- Cold sore patches are also available to provide an invisible protective layer to aid faster healing.
- The patch should be used 24 hours a day until the cold sore has healed and each patch will naturally detach from the skin after approximately 8 hours on average.
18
Q
What are special cautions for cold sores (5)
A
- If used after the tingling stage, antiviral creams will be of little benefit.
- Customers who suffer from cold sores regularly should be advised to keep a spare tube of cream handy, so they can start using it as soon as they feel the tingle.
- Customers should always wash their hands before and after they have applied the cream; they could get another sore if they touch another part of their face.
- OTC aciclovir cream can only be used for cold sores around the mouth and face.
- Herpes infections in other parts of the body should be referred to your pharmacist who will probably advise the customer to go to their GP.
19
Q
What are the signs and clinical features of oral thrush (3)
A
- white spots or a white coating on the tongue, insides of the cheeks and roof of the mouth.
- some patients may not have any white spots but the mouth will be red and sore.
- Other symptoms may include difficulty eating and changes to taste
20
Q
What are causes of oral thrush (3)
A
- antibiotics
- some inhalers
- It is also common in babies
21
Q
What are the symptoms of oral thrush (3)
A
- Red mouth with white spots or white coating on tongue, insides of the cheeks or roof of mouth
- Sore mouth
22
Q
What treatment is there for oral thrush (2)
A
- miconazole oral gel
- suitable for adults, infants and babies aged four months and over.
23
Q
What general advice is there for oral thrush (5)
A
- Brush teeth at least twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride
- Change toothbrushes regularly every three to four months
- Visit the dentist at least every six months for a check up – more frequently if they have been advised by their dentist
- Treat mouth problems at an early stage
- Rinse the mouth after eating or taking particular medicines
24
Q
When should oral thrush be referred (8)
A
- Bleeding gum
- Mouth infections
- Persistent bad breath or ulcers
- Mouth ulcers which have lasted more than 14 days
- Painless sores in the mouth
- Herpes infections in parts of the body other than the mouth
- Ill-fitting or painful dentures
- Associated warning symptoms eg unexplained weight loss
