Keywords
nursing care
aspiration pneumonia
swallowing disorders
How to Cite
Abstract
Inadequate oral hygiene in dependent patients can lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia, mouth infections, caries, halitosis, and discomfort. Implementing good oral hygiene practices improves quality of life, reduces complications, and promotes patient safety. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, studies involving hospitalized adults diagnosed with impaired swallowing, in which oral hygiene interventions using antiseptics with structured protocols were applied, were included. The search was conducted in the PUBMED, CINAHL, and grey literature databases. The analyzed studies demonstrate that the implementation of oral hygiene reduces the incidence of aspiration pneumonia, decreases the bacterial load in the oropharynx, and improves oral comfort. It was observed that systematized oral hygiene procedures contributed to clinical safety; however, significant barriers persist, such as lack of training, scarcity of standardized protocols, and perception of low priority among professionals. The literature confirms that, in patients with impaired swallowing, the oral cavity can act as a point of origin for serious respiratory infections. Early and systematic intervention significantly reduces these risks. However, recognizing the importance of oral hygiene is not enough: it is necessary to operationalize the practice. Oral hygiene presents an effective and decisive intervention for reducing complications in patients with swallowing disorders, making it essential to reinforce its systematic integration into healthcare and promote research in this area.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ana Catarina Rego Gonçalves, Mónica Susana Moura Dos Santos, Palmira Martins Gonçalves Azevedo, Paula Maria Carvalho Xavier (Author)