お口の中をきれいにさせていただきますね。少しずつ、お口を開けていただけますか。 — Let me clean inside your mouth. Could you open your mouth a little at a time? (Care · Daily · Support, Formal to Senior, JLPT N3)

Gesture & etiquette

Sit at eye level. Show the toothbrush/swab before approaching—no surprise tools. Support back of head with non-dominant hand. Work in small sections (front teeth, then upper left, lower left, etc.). Pause at any cough or discomfort. Praise calmly: 「上手にできましたね」.

Oral care for seniors—often involves dentures, sensitive gums, or aspiration risk. 「少しずつ」 (a little at a time) respects their pace and reduces choking risk. Always announce before inserting anything. Use a small, soft toothbrush or oral swab. Have them sit upright at 45-90 degrees, never lying flat.