Oral Care Protocol

An oral care protocol is a prescribed, routine care plan that clinicians use to educate and treat patients with cancer for oral care. The foundation of an oral care protocol is good oral hygiene. A protocol should include brushing the teeth with a soft toothbrush. If patients routinely floss, then flossing should be continued unless the patient has a risk of bleeding because of thrombocytopenia or other concerns. Various protocols may include different cleansing and treatment regimens. The singular component of any oral care protocol is consistency of use, and consistent oral care has a positive effect on mucositis prevention and management. The effectiveness of any specific protocol depends on the specific agents used and the degree to which individual agents are proven effective by synthesized evidence.

Guideline / Expert Opinion