Oral Care for the Dying Patient
This is an important aspect of end of life care and is something that family members can be taught to do if they wish. This may help lessen their distress at not being able to feed their loved one.
	☛  Find out from patient and /or family what fluids they like
	☛  Mouth care should be done two hourly or more frequently if required
	☛  Use maxi swabs (like oversize cotton buds), not the green sponge swabs as they are impregnated with sodium bicarbonate and this is unpleasant for the patient
	☛  Use any fluids familiar to the patient to swab the mouth – cooled tea or coffee, fruit juice, carbonated drinks, alcohol, cooled clear soups, ice cream or yogurt. This will allow the family to provide special things for their loved one and the familiar fluids and touch of family will lessen the shock for the patient of having something placed in their mouth if they have altered consciousness
	☛  Avoid iced water – this can be a shock for a semiconscious patient especially if they have sensitive teeth
	☛  It is the act of moistening the mouth and NOT the fluid you use that is important
	☛  Take care if the mouth is painful or ulcerated and bonjela or lignocaine viscous may be appropriate
	☛  If a patient has a history of high alcohol intake, swabbing their mouth with alcohol may keep them more settled
https://web.archive.org/web/20200824022538/http://cdhb.palliativecare.org.nz/Oral%20Care%20in%20Patients%20at%20the%20end%20of%20life.pdf