MOUTH ASSESSMENT

• Wear gloves when examining mouth and throat
• o   Teeth: number, arrangement, general condition
• o   Buccal mucosa: for discoloration, vesicles, ulcers, masses.
• o   Gums: for color, texture, discharge, swelling or retraction
• o   Pharynx: for inflammation, exudates and masses.
• o   Tongue: (ask the patient to protrude the tongue) for size, color thickness, lesions, moisture, symmetry, deviations from midline, fasciculations.
• o   Salivary glands: for patency (parotid glands, sublingual and submaxillary glands).
• o   Uvula: for symmetry when patient says "ah"
• o   Tonsils: for size, ulceration, exudates, inflammation
• o   Voice: for hoarseness
• NORMAL FINDINGS: Entire oral cavity should be pink and without ulcers, deep - red color, lesions, palpable masses, or swelling. An indurated mass raises the suspicion of malignancy.
• Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing.
• Erostomia: Dry mouth.
• Cheilitis: Cracking at the corners of the lips:
• Plaque: Soft debris in the teeth.
• Caries:  Tooth decay
• Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums.
• Malocclusion: Upper and lower dental arches are not in alignment.
• Leukoplakia: Chalky, white, thick, raise patch with well. — defines borders usually on the lateral edges of the tongue.
• Tonsilitis: Inflammation of the tonsils.
• Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx.
• Stomatitis: Dry, sore, mucous membrane of the mouth.