Table 3.

Inappropriate oral care interventions

Intervention	Indication	Comment
Ice chips/cubes	Xerostomia [37–39]	Ice is frozen water and rapidly melts when placed in the mouth. Ice (like water) provides “temporary and inadequate relief” [40]
Glycerol (+ / − lemon) solution/swabs	Xerostomia [2]	Glycerol has a “drying action” on the oral mucosa [41]. Lemon is acidic (ascorbic, citric acid) and should not be used in patients with salivary gland hypofunction/SGH (especially dentate patients)—acidic products cause oral discomfort and promote dental demineralisation (“erosion”), dental caries and oral candidosis [1]
Acidic artificial salivas	Xerostomia [38]	Acidic products should not be used in patients with SGH (see above)
Pineapple chunks	Dirty mouth [42] Xerostomia [37, 38, 42]	Pineapple is acidic (ascorbic acid), and such products should not be used in patients with SGH
Vitamin C tablets	Dirty mouth/teeth [39, 42] Xerostomia [43]	Vitamin C tablets are acidic (ascorbic acid, often with citric acid), and such products should not be used in patients with SGH
Sweets/candies	Xerostomia	Sweets/candies contain sugars, which cause dental caries (especially in patients with SGH) Sweets/candies may be acidic, and such products should not be used in patients with SGH