| Category | Score 0 | Score 1 | Score 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral cleanliness (denture included) |
Good: Clean and no food particles or tartar in mouth or dentures | Fair: Food particles/ tartar/ plaque in some areas of the mouth or dentures | Poor: Food particles/tartar/ plaque covering most areas of the mouth or dentures |
| Dryness of the mouth (by visual inspection) | Not present: Moist tissues, free flowing saliva | Present to a certain extent: sticky tissues, little saliva present | Present: Tissues parched and red, very little/no saliva present |
| Tongue coating | Not present | Thin coating present: Covering less than 2/3 of the tongue surface, (if covering 2/3 or more: +1 point) |
Thick coating present: Covering less than 2/3 of the tongue surface, (if covering 2/3 or more: +1 point) |
| Tooth brushing (oral self-care) | Possible | Aid needed | Impossible |
| Breath odor (as perceived during conversation) | No bad breath | Bad breath can be identified | Severe halitosis (bad breath) |
| Gums and oral mucosa troubles | Not present: Pink, moist, smooth, no bleeding | Present (slight): Dry, shiny, rough, red swollen, one ulcer/sore spot | Present (severe): Swollen, bleeding, ulcers, white/red patches, generalized redness |
| Tongue troubles | Not present: Pink, moist, papillae present | Present (slight): No papillae, red, shiny | Present (severe): blistery, fissured |
| Tongue protrusion beyond the lower lip | Possible | Tongue protrusion cannot surpass the lower lip | Impossible |
| Cheek puffing test (Closing the lips and puffing out the cheeks) | Possible | Incomplete closing of lips | Impossible |
| Articulation (Pronounce "Pa-n-da-no-ta-ka-ra-mo-no") |
Possible | Unclear | Impossible |
| Oral intake (from patient records) | Possible (3 meals per day) | Partially possible (1 meal per day or just some spoonfuls) | Impossible (tube feeding) |
| Choking (patient-reported) | Never | Sometimes | Often |