Florida Nursing Assistant Competency Pracrice Exam

What is the focus of oral hygiene?

1. To enhance taste

2. To clean the mouth, teeth, gums, and tongue

3. To apply medication

4. To provide fresh breath

The correct answer is: To clean the mouth, teeth, gums, and tongue

The focus of oral hygiene is to clean the mouth, teeth, gums, and tongue. This practice is essential for maintaining overall oral health and preventing issues such as cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Regular cleaning helps to remove plaque, food particles, and bacteria that accumulate in the mouth. By focusing on thorough cleaning, oral hygiene not only contributes to a healthier mouth but also supports broader health impacts, as poor oral health can affect systemic conditions. While enhancing taste, applying medication, and providing fresh breath are important aspects related to oral care, they are secondary to the primary goal of thoroughly cleaning the mouth. Enhancing taste and providing fresh breath can be seen as benefits of good oral hygiene, and while medication may be involved in treating oral conditions, it does not constitute the primary focus of routine oral hygiene practices. The central aim remains the maintenance of cleanliness to ensure both oral and overall health.