Table 3.
Oral assessment guide [12].
| Category | Numerical and descriptive ratings | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Voice | Normal | Deeper or raspy | Difficulty in talking, painful |
| Swallow | Normal swallow | Some pain on swallow | Unable to swallow |
| Lips | Smooth, pink, and moist | Dry or cracked | Ulcerated or bleeding |
| Tongue | Pink and moist and papillae are present | Coated or loss of papillae with shiny appearance, with or without redness | Blistered/cracked |
| Saliva | Watery | Thick or copy | Absent |
| Mucous membrane | Pain and moist | Reddened or coated (increased whiteness) without ulcerations | Ulceration with or without bleeding |
| Gingiva | Pink, stippled, and firm | Edematous with or without redness | Spontaneous bleeding or bleeding on pressure |
| Teeth or dentures | Clean and no debris | Plaque or debris in localized areas (between two teeth, if present) | Plaque or debris generalized along gum line or denture bearing areas |