Mouth

• Lips


  o Muscular folds that surround the mouth

  o Contain sensory receptors and are very sensitive

  o Lips assist with eating, expression, and speech
• Teeth


  o 20 deciduous, 32 permanent

  o Needed for chewing

  o Also have esthetic value
• DECIDUOUS


  - primary, milk, temporary or baby teeth
• PERMANENT


  - 28 if molars did not erupt
• Tongue


  o Muscle controlled by CN XII - hypoglossal

  o Needed for chewing, swallowing, and speech

  o Sensory (taste) CN VII and CN IX (facial & glossopharyngeal)
• Hard Palate


  Forms the floor of the nasal cavity
• Soft Palate


  o Posterior to hard palate

  
  

  o Elevates during swallowing to prevent food and saliva from entering the nasopharynx
• Uvula


  o Fleshy conelike structure in the center of the soft palate

  
  

  o Prevents food from entering nasal passages
• Salivary Glands


  o Secrete saliva which contains amylase to convert starch to maltose

  o 3 major salivary glands (produce saliva)

  ▪ Parotid gland

  ▪ Submandibular gland

  ▪ Sublingual gland

  
  

  o Helps in digestion

  
  

  o Oral health

  
  

  o In the absence of saliva we cannot taste the food we eat
• Pallor


  Anemia
• Redness


  Inflammatory or infectious disorder
• Cyanosis


  Vasoconstriction or hypoxia
• Lesions


  Infectious or inflammatory disorder
• Cheilitis


  • inflammation of lips

  • drying, and cracking

  • Dehydration

  • Allergy

  • lip licking
• Cheilosis


  • fissures at corners of lips

  • Deficiency of B vitamins

  • maceration related to overclosure
• Halitosis


  • Infections or gastrointestinal problems.

  • Poor oral hygiene
• Chancre


  Single, painless ulcer of primary syphilis
• Angioedema


  Allergic response based on client's allergic stimulus
• Herpes simplex


  Herpes viral infection
• Malalignment


  ▪ early loss of baby or adult teeth

  ▪ improper fit of dental restorations

  ▪ gingivitis

  ▪ undue pressure on the teeth and gums

  ▪ misalignment of the jaw after an injury

  ▪ tumors of the mouth or jaw

  ▪ common oral health problems in children
• Dental caries


  caused by the action of acids on the enamel surface
• Discoloration of teeth


  ▪ Chemicals or medications

  
  

  o Mottled enamel
• Gum hyperplasia / Gingival hyperplasia


  ▪ can occur as a direct result of inflammation

  ▪ often caused by plaque buildup on the teeth from food, bacteria, and poor hygiene practices

  ▪ The inflammation can make the gums tender and red, and it can trigger bleeding
• Gum recession


  ▪ Poor dental hygiene or vitamin deficiency

  
  

  ▪ Aggressive tooth brushing

  
  

  ▪ Hormonal changes
• Pale or gray gingivae


  Chronic gingivitis
• Abrasions, erosion of underlying mucosa


  ▪ poorly fitted dentures

  
  

  o Inflamed, bleeding gingivae
• Allergic stomatitis


  Reddened, inflamed oral mucosa, sometimes accompanied by ulcerations
• Aphthous ulcer


  Benign and non - contagious
• Cancers


  ▪ found on the lips, gums, oral mucosa or other areas of the mouth

  ▪ associated with tobacco use and alcohol abuse
• Leukoplakia


  ▪ White, adherent mucosal thickening

  ▪ Smoking is the most common cause
• Absence of Papillae

  ▪ reddened mucosa, ulcerations

  ▪ Allergic, inflammatory, or infectious cause
• Glossitis


  occurs when the tongue becomes inflamed, due to infections, allergic reactions, and injuries, among other causes
• Color changes


  ▪ May indicate underlying problems

  ▪ red beefy tongue
• Black, hairy tongue


  ▪ due to antibiotic use for a medical condition

  ▪ by using products that contain bismuth
• Hypertrophy and discoloration of papillae

  ▪ Poor oral hygiene

  ▪ Dry mouth

  ▪ Dehydration

  ▪ Smoking or other oral tobacco use
• Postnasal drainage


  ▪ Yellowish or green streaks of drainage on the posterior wall

  ▪ The example is an acute sinusitis with post nasal drip
• Gray membrane / adherent material


  Pharyngeal Diphtheria
• White or pale patches of exudates with erythemic mucosa


  Infection, including streptococcal bacterial infection or mononucleosis viral infection
• Exudative pharyngitis


  associated with Gonorrhea and chlamydia, sore throat
• Erythema


  ▪ Inflammatory response, typically associated with infectious pharyngitis

  ▪ also common in smokers