What areas should be brushed when performing mouth care?

When performing mouth care, it is essential to brush the inner surfaces, outer surfaces, chewing surfaces of the teeth, and the tongue to ensure comprehensive oral hygiene. This thorough approach helps remove plaque and food particles from all areas of the mouth, which is vital in preventing cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

Cleaning the inner surfaces helps maintain the overall health of the gums, while brushing the outer and chewing surfaces addresses major areas that come into contact with food. The tongue also harbors bacteria and debris; therefore, cleaning it significantly contributes to maintaining fresh breath and reducing oral bacteria.

The other options fall short in various ways. Focusing solely on the outer surfaces of the cheeks or just the front of the teeth neglects crucial surfaces that are equally important for maintaining proper oral hygiene. Limiting brushing to only the chewing surfaces and tongue misses cleaning significant areas that contribute to overall mouth health.