Nurse's plea: Brush your teeth before surgery fasting

A plea from a surgical ward nurse is circulating online, asking patients scheduled for surgery to prioritize brushing their teeth before their pre-operative fasting period begins. The nurse highlighted a common misconception: while patients are instructed to fast from midnight, this does not mean they should forgo brushing their teeth.

“

That taste of saliva mixed with food from the night before fermenting in the mouth all night… that's truly a taste from the abyss!

In a post shared on Threads, the nurse expressed dismay at the strong odors encountered during pre-operative checks. "That taste of saliva mixed with food from the night before fermenting in the mouth all night... that's truly a taste from the abyss!" the nurse wrote, appealing to patients to save the nasal senses of the surgical staff.

The nurse clarified that the fasting rule, typically from midnight onwards, is to prevent aspiration pneumonia during anesthesia. Brushing teeth is permissible and encouraged, as long as patients do not swallow the water or toothpaste. The message aims to improve the pre-operative experience for both patients and medical teams.

“

Thank you, on behalf of the anesthesiology department, for checking teeth once and for intubation smelling a second time.

The post resonated strongly with numerous other healthcare professionals, including anesthesiologists and nurses, who shared their own experiences with patients' oral hygiene before surgery. Many expressed solidarity with the surgical nurse's request, emphasizing the significant difference a clean mouth makes during intubation and other procedures. The consensus among commenters was a strong endorsement of the call for patients to brush their teeth before surgery.

“

I really beg you to brush your teeth... please, anesthesiology is very painful.