Sponge mouth swabs are used to moisten the oral cavity, help loosen sticky mucus secretions, food debris and thickened saliva. They are not effective at removing plaque from the teeth and gums and should not be a substitute for a toothbrush. Oral care swabs are disposable, single-use oral care sponges attached to a stick. They are used for oral care in the hospital and long-term care setting. A mouth swab drug test uses a long Q-tip with a sponge-like material to collect your saliva sample. It’s done by sweeping the inside of the cheek or underneath the tongue.