Final answer:
When taking an oral temperature, ingesting hot or cold liquids or smoking can cause a delay in the temperature reading.
Step-by-step explanation:
When taking an oral temperature, the temperature reading may be delayed if the patient ingested hot or cold liquids or smoked.
Hot or cold liquids can affect the temperature reading because they can temporarily change the temperature in the mouth. Similarly, smoking can also impact the accuracy of the reading as it can cause the mouth to be hotter or cooler than the actual body temperature.
To obtain an accurate oral temperature reading, it is best to wait for at least 15 minutes after eating or drinking hot or cold substances, and to avoid smoking for at least 5 minutes prior to taking the temperature.