What is the appropriate procedure for taking a patient's temperature orally?

Taking a patient's temperature orally involves placing the thermometer under the tongue, where it can accurately measure the core body temperature. This method is standard practice because the sublingual area has rich blood supply, ensuring that the temperature reading reflects the body's internal temperature rather than external environmental factors.

To obtain a reliable reading, it is important to instruct the patient to close their mouth around the thermometer and keep it in place until the device signals that it has completed the measurement. This process ensures that the reading is consistent and reflective of the patient's actual body temperature.

Other methods, such as placing the thermometer under the arm, in the ear canal, or on the forehead, may be used under different circumstances, but they do not provide the same level of accuracy as oral temperature measurement when performed correctly. Each of these alternative methods has its own procedures and considerations, making them less ideal for routine oral temperature assessment.