Maintenance of mouth hygiene in patients with oral cancer in the immediate post-operative period

Abstract

Background: Little has been written about mouth hygiene measures during the immediate post-operative phase in patients with oral cancer. Mouth hygiene not only involves the care and maintenance of the dentition and its related structures, but also the maintenance of surgical sites, reconstructive techniques such as free flaps and generally keeping the mouth clean, which may optimize healing potential and patient comfort. Ward conditions and novel methods of reconstruction require innovation and improvisation of routine methods of mouth and oral hygiene. Methods: A review of techniques of mouth hygiene used during the immediate post-operative phase by our unit over the last nine years and a r..