Mouthcare: glycerin and lemon mouthsticks

Specialties Geriatric

Published

In 1988 a colleague and I conducted a small research study on the use of glycerin and lemon mouthsticks. These were used for poorly and dying people. We noticed that these people were developing sores and blisters on the lips and mucosa in the mouth. The glyerin part gave the appearance of a moistened mouth, but lips were just made greasy. Like a sweety whose catch phrase was 'made to make your mouth water' the lemon part certainly did this, to the point that the salivary glands were exhausted. They were 'banned' at our local hospital and mouthcare practice changed to water/fresh pineapple juice applied with a baby soft toothbrush and lip salve for the lips.

Working in education and development I spied a box in a retirement home, being ordered and used for a resident at the end of life. I was called to look at her very saw mouth, lo and behold....why are these things back!!!

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We had them at our facility when I worked as an LNA. Most often we used mouthwash cut with water and lip balm instead.

I can't recall seeing sores on those who had the lemon swabs though. That is something I'll keep an eye out for when I'm back on the floor.

How long/often were they used?

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

I've even seen these at the hospitals when I did clinicals last year! and OK, am I the only that has tried the mint swabs, just to see what they tasted like? LOL

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Small correction: sore mouth, sorry. Thanks for comments. More research needs to be done on a much larger scale. My colleague is rooting out the article from way back when to look at the size of the sample etc. I have emailed the company making/distributing the product.

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I've never seen sores with them, but I like the idea of the pineapple juice!

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Specializes in dementia/LTC.

We use them at my ltc facility. I have used them on many pts during end of life care and can't say I've ever seen sores. I do alternate them with plain swabs with mouthwash diluted in water and we have a mouth moisturizer paste I use a lot of as well in those situations. I will mention it to my infection control nurse and manager.

If you can find the study it would be greatly appreciated.

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We had to try them in lab- they are gross!! Made me gag lol. We have them in the hospital too. I couldn't use them on my patients. Yuck! Super soft toothbrush and even plain old water is better. Actually anything would be better lol!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I had to use them once when I was in the hospital, and they were awful---they actually made my mouth more dry. The "toothettes" dunked in cool water were much more refreshing to me. So whenever I had a choice, I used those for oral care on my patients rather than the lemon/glycerine swabs, unless of course the patient preferred the latter.

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Specializes in Infection Control, Med/Surg, LTC.

We stopped using them years ago. Too drying. Better off using the toothette swab with water and some lip moisture stick like those made by Aquafina - yes, the purified water people. I buy them at the Dollar Stores.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

I recommend swabbing the mouth with water and a non-alcohol based mouthwash followed by nonpetroleum moisturizers on the lips. If the mouth is too dry the families may use a small amount of cooking oil (I like Olive oil) to preserve the moisture on the oral mucosa.

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