Oral temperature readings should be deferred for at least 30 minutes after which activity?

• A. A Eating or drinking or smoking
• B. B Sleeping
• C. C Exercise
• D. D Showering

Answer: (A)

Oral temperature readings reflect the temperature inside the mouth, which can be temporarily altered by activities that involve the mouth or heat exchange with ingested substances. Eating or drinking introduces substances at different temperatures into the mouth, and smoking adds heat and chemical effects that can change the temperature of the oral mucosa and blood flow. Because these factors can skew the result, wait at least 30 minutes before taking an oral temperature after these activities to let the mouth return to its normal baseline. Sleeping or showering can affect body temperature more indirectly, so the most consistent reason for the 30-minute deferment is the direct impact of eating, drinking, and smoking on oral temperature.