During Mouth Care for a Comatose Resident, which surfaces are cleaned with the toothette?

• A. Only upper surfaces
• B. Upper and lower inner/outer/chewing surfaces
• C. Tongue only
• D. Gums only

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that mouth care for a comatose resident requires cleaning all tooth surfaces, not just a single area. Using a toothette, you wipe every surface of the teeth on both the upper and lower arches: the outer (facial) surfaces, the inner (lingual) surfaces, and the chewing (occlusal) surfaces. This comprehensive cleaning removes plaque and debris that the resident cannot brush away, helping prevent infections, tooth decay, and bad breath. While tongue and gum care are also important parts of oral care, the toothette’s purpose for the tooth surfaces is to address all four surface areas across both arches.