Signs of Oral Pain
Introduction
Oral pain is usually reported by the patient. However, individuals living with dementia and other conditions affecting their cognition are often unable to communicate their symptoms.Visual Signs
Visual signs of common sources of oral pain include broken teeth (yellow arrow), bleeding gums or swelling (green arrow), mouth skin sores (blue arrow), and redness. When one or more of these signs are noticed, a dental appointment should be scheduled as soon as possible.
Non-Verbals
Non-verbal signs of oral pain that should be considered include the following:
- Neglecting to eat
- Being disinterested in food
- Chewing of the lip, tongue, or hands
- Pulling at the face or mouth
- Not wearing dentures
- Grinding of teeth or dentures
- Showing aggressive behavior
- Changes in activity level
- Avoiding oral hygiene
- Noisy breathing
- Vocalization (e.g. moaning, groaning)
- Tense body language
- Protection of sore areas
- Distressed facial expressions
If you notice any of the above signs, a dental appointment should be scheduled as soon as possible.
Signs of Oral Pain End
