When reinforcing education about continuous heparin therapy for a client 18 hours postpartum with a DVT, which statement should the nurse include?

• A. Use a soft toothbrush to gently brush your teeth.
• B. Brush teeth vigorously with a hard toothbrush.
• C. Rinse mouth with hot water after meals.
• D. Avoid dental care until your follow-up visit.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that anticoagulation with heparin increases bleeding risk, so oral care must minimize any trauma to the gums and mouth. Using a soft toothbrush and brushing gently reduces gingival injury and the chance of bleeding while keeping teeth clean.

Other guidance would raise the bleeding risk or unnecessarily limit care: a hard toothbrush brushed vigorously can cause gum trauma and bleeding; rinsing with hot water after meals can irritate or burn mucosa and doesn’t address bleeding prevention; avoiding dental care entirely is overly restrictive and could allow dental issues to worsen. The best teaching point is to maintain gentle, careful oral hygiene with a soft brush.