Foundations skills for Midwifery: Oral Hygiene.

Essay by heavenli18University, Bachelor'sA+, August 2003

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Various studies and health care professionals have suggested that oral hygiene within the health service, is a care provision which should be considered more carefully. This paper is going to look into the reasons behind this; the need for carrying out such a procedure, equipment required, skills in relation to the care provision, safety measures and ways of improvement. All of these are going to be implemented on basic oral hygeine procedures, although also relaying the information to a midwifery context. Oral hygiene is of up most importance whist pregnant, therefore we shall be highlighting this fact, as well as introducing the main reasons for health care professionals to interact with oral hygeine procedures. A persons nutrition, diet and personal hygiene all counteract with one another to create a balance of oral hygiene. This paper shall look at the differing balances and the effect it has on the health of a person.

Throughout her career, a midwife may not encounter a varying degree of circumstances leading to the physical intervention of caring for a persons oral hygiene. This does not mean to say she should be any less skilled or knowledgeable in this field. Oral hygiene is thought to be highly important whilst pregnant. The government therefore provides free dental treatment to all pregnant women, this carries on until the child's first birthday.

From the first initial booking a pregnant mother has with her midwife, oral hygiene and diet should be discussed. Due to the changes the body goes through in pregnancy and the hormone levels, inflammation and swelling of the gums is common. Also a build up of plaque in these area's can cause problems and lead to gum disease if proper and inadequate oral hygiene methods are not in place. ( ach ) To consider the...