When a patient is unable to attend to their own oral care needs, the nursing staff is to assist and help support the patient under their care with this activity. Whilst providing good standard of oral care, nurses need an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the oral cavity which can help provide evidence–based care that is responsive to individual needs (Cooley 2002). This also includes the effects of various medications patients may be on causing xerostomia (Na Èrhi et al. 1993, Sreebny 1997) that can interfere with swallowing, speech, and chewing, which is essential for saliva (Friedlander 1993;Carpenito-Moyet 2012),therefore it is important for a physical assessment to be carried out and subsequent care assessment (NHS Quality
