Oral Cavity – Inspection and Palpation

Usually the client is positioned sitting upright; newborns or young children can be held by their parent/caregiver. Wear gloves because this assessment involves contact with body fluids from the mucus membranes. You will also need a tongue depressor and a penlight.

Inspection of Lips

Inspect the lips for swelling, colour, lesions, or malformations. Also inspect the lips for moisture and texture, which are interrelated.

The steps for this are as follows:

1. Identify any presence and location of swelling and redness.

• These two findings are often associated. You must respond immediately if you suspect the swelling is associated with anaphylaxis. For example, do they have allergies, such as food or bees, or have they recently had a vaccine? Do they have other signs of anaphylaxis (e.g., hives, pruritus, dyspnea, dysphagia, tachycardia, hypotension)?

2. Note the colour.

• Lip colour varies based on the client’s skin colour. It can range from pink to brown tones. Note any lip discolouration (e.g., redness, cyanosis, pallor). Cyanosis can appear as a grey/white shade in people with darker skin (Lewis, 2020; Sommers, 2011) or as a dusky bluish/purple shade in people with lighter skin (Lewis, 2020). Pallor can appear as a grey shade in people with darker skin (Lewis, 2020) or as a generalized pale discolouration in people with lighter skin.

3. Identify the presence, location, size, and description of any lesions and malformations, including the colour and presence of any discharge.

• If you identify a lesion, ask the client whether they have noticed it, how long they have had it, whether they know the cause, and if they have treated it with anything.
• A common lesion on the lips is herpes simplex virus (cold sore) which appear as small, fluid-filled blisters, see Figure 2. Another common malformation of the lip is a cleft lip (which is sometimes associated with a cleft palate). These are important to assess and act upon because they can affect a client’s breathing, speaking, and sucking and swallowing associated with eating. They are often surgically repaired at a young age. Further information and images for cleft lip and palate can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/cleftlip.html

• Are the lips moist or dry? Moist lips are smooth with no cracking. Dry lips are chapped and/or may have fissures. Chapped lips are flaky and sometimes red, with “flakes” or “scales” of skin peeling away from the lips. Fissures are usually called “cracked lips.”

• Normal findings: “Lips are moist with no cracking, lesions, or swelling, pink in colour with generalized brown tones, no discolouration.”
• Abnormal findings: “Lips are dry with cracking, a red lesion on upper lip left of midline 3mm x 3 mm with a slight serous discharge.”

Figure 2: Herpes simplex virus (cold sore) on the lower lip.

(Attribution: Photo Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8011415)

Inspection of Oral Mucosa

Systematically inspect all parts of the mucosa. Shine a penlight in the mouth to illuminate the area. You can ask the client to pull their top lip up and then their bottom lip down, or use a gloved hand or tongue depressor to perform this action so you can inspect the mucosa on the inside of the lips.

Most clients can open their mouth wide and tip their head back so that you can observe the palate and also put the tip of their tongue behind their front teeth so that you can observe the floor of the mouth and under the tongue. You can use a tongue depressor to expose the buccal mucosa. To expose the pharynx, ask the client to stick their tongue out and say “ahhh” or pretend to yawn. You may need to use the tongue depressor to press the tongue down. If so, avoid using it in the middle of the tongue as this may elicit a gag reflex.

Inspection of the mucosa of the oral cavity includes observing the insides of the lips and the buccal mucosa (inside of checks), the tongue, the floor of mouth (under the tongue) and the hard and soft palate, the pharynx, and salivary glands. See Figure 3 for anatomical locations of the oral cavity.

Figure 3: Anatomical locations of oral cavity.

Use the following steps:

1. Note moisture or dryness.

• The whole oral cavity should be moist. Dry mucous membranes are often a sign of dehydration. However, you should also assess if the client may be a person who breathes through their mouth and not their nose. You will notice tiny ductal openings (about 1 mm in size) of the salivary glands. These glands produce saliva for the mouth and include the parotid (ductal opening on the buccal mucosa near the upper second molar), the submandibular (ductal opening at the base of the ventral surface of the tongue on both sides of the frenulum), and the sublingual (several ductal openings on both side of the floor of the mouth).

2. Inspect the mucosa of the lips and buccal mucosa for colour, lesions, swelling, and nodules.

• The mucous membranes, including the mucosa of the lips and buccal mucosa, are pink in colour. Any discolourations (e.g., cyanosis or pallor) should be described and the location noted. Cyanosis can appear as a grey/white shade in people with darker skin (Lewis, 2020; Sommers, 2011) or as a dusky bluish/purple shade in people with lighter skin (Lewis, 2020). Pallor appears as a grey shade in people with darker skin or as a generalized pale discolouration in people with lighter skin.
• The mucosa of the lips and buccal mucosa are intact with a smooth surface. Note the description and location of any lesions, swelling, or nodules. Palpate any lesions, swelling, or nodules and identify the consistency (e.g., soft or hard).

3. Inspect the tongue, floor of the mouth, and hard and soft palate for colour, lesions, swelling, nodules, and malformations.

• Note the colour and any discolourations along with the location. The tongue is normally pink with a dotted surface that is most readily seen on the dorsal and posterior side. The small and hard palate are a lighter pink in which the hard palate (directly behind the upper front teeth) has a slight white shading. The ventral surface of the tongue is highly vascular, and you will observe veins under the tongue.
• The mucosa is normally intact with a smooth texture except the hard palate, which has a ridged surface. Note the description and location of any lesions, swelling, nodules, or malformations. Palpate any lesions, swelling, or nodules and identify the consistency (e.g., soft or hard). One of the most common malformations at birth is a cleft palate.
• While doing so, observe for halitosis, which refers to a bad odour. It is important to recognize that “stale” smelling breath is not necessarily a concern and also to understand that this can be embarrassing for clients. Therefore, it is important to approach the situation in a sensitive manner. There are many causes of halitosis that should be assessed. For example, common causes are dehydration, bacteria associated with poor oral care, diabetes, tobacco, and recent ingestion of foods such as garlic, onion and coffee. 

4. Inspect the pharynx for colour, swelling, lesions, and nodules, and describe the tonsils.

• Note the colour and any discolourations (such as redness or white patches) along with the location.
• Identify the presence, location, and description of any swelling, lesions, or nodules. 
• Note the size of both the left and the right tonsil. Sometimes tonsils have been surgically removed so they may not be present. But, usually tonsils are just visible to view. Many “scales” are used to grade tonsil size, but there is no one standardized scale. Therefore, it is better to describe the size such as:
  • Tonsils are not present.
  • Tonsil(s) is visible between the anterior and posterior pillar, but not enlarged.
  • Tonsil(s) is enlarged at halfway between the anterior pillar and the uvula.
  • Tonsil(s) is enlarged and touching the midline of the mouth or the uvula. (If both tonsils are enlarged, you may describe them as touching each other).

5. Note the findings. 

• Normal findings might be documented as: “Moist oral cavity. Pink mucosa with no discolouration, lesions, nodules, or swelling. Tonsils are visible but not enlarged.”
• Abnormal findings might be documented as: “Dry mucous membranes of oral cavity. White, raised patches on the tongue, buccal mucosa, soft palate, and pharynx.”

Teeth and Gums

Assessment of the teeth and gums includes inspection and palpation. Use a penlight to illuminate the back of the mouth. Begin by asking the client to smile to expose the teeth, and use a tongue depressor or your gloved finger to expose the gums and the back teeth. Remember: your assessment of the teeth and gums does not replace a routine dental assessment.

Assessment of the teeth and gums involves the following steps:

1. Inspect the colour of the teeth.

• Tooth enamel is white, so you should note any discoloration. When enamel begins to erode, teeth may have a yellowish colour, which reflects the underlying layer, and even a brown colour. Enamel erosion and tooth discolouration can be caused by many things including smoking, diet (e.g., red wine, coffee/tea), bruxism, decay, and acids introduced into the mouth as a result of bulimia. Some mild erosion is associated with aging due to exposure to cultural factors such as diet.

2. Inspect for missing, chipped, or broken teeth.

• Note the presence and location.

3. Inspect for missing or loose fillings.

• Note the presence and location.

4. Inspect the gums for colour, swelling, and bleeding.

• Identify the presence and location of any discolouration such as redness, swelling, or bleeding. Healthy gums have a pink colour similar to the buccal mucosa, with no swelling or bleeding.

5. Palpate for loose teeth and palpate the gums for pain.

• Use your gloved finger to palpate for the presence of any loose teeth, and note the location.
• Next, use your gloved finger to palpate the gums for pain while using the tongue depressor to pull the buccal mucosa out. Ask the client if they feel any pain or tenderness and note the location.

6. Note the findings. 

• Normal findings might be documented as: “White teeth with no loose, missing, chipped or broken teeth. Gums are pink in colour with no swelling, bleeding, or pain.”
• Abnormal findings might be documented as: “Slight yellow discolouration of the teeth. Second molar on upper right side loose with swelling of the gum and mild bleeding.”

Activity: Check Your Understanding