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My late father in law took up the habit of folding tissues or paper towels into squares, and keeping a small pile of them in reach. And tucking them into his pockets, and between the seat cushions on the couch. Sometimes he did use them to wipe at oral secretions that started to dribble out, or his eyes if they were runny. He kept a small trash can nearby for the used items.
He wasn't interested in explaining this to anyone, but it seemed to make him contented.
He had some dementia (likely vascular) at age 90+, but no formal diagnosis.
In other words, no real ideas on the why.
The family member who did laundry learned to check very carefully in pockets before doing the washing!
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Not to be flippant but...
Who knows why a person with dementia does anything they do.
It is possible that she...
Likes the feel of the napkin
feels like she is cleaning her mouth
she "knows" the napkin is for wiping part of her face after eating but may not know WHAT she is supposed to wipe.
If you are sitting next to her you can gently take the napkin and wipe her lips and if you do that often enough it may become a habit with her and she may do the same thing after a while.
I would not stress about it.
I would not make a big deal about it.
If you are using paper napkins I would switch to cotton ones.

You are lucky she is just wiping her tongue my Husband chewed on napkins (and any other material he could get) I have a set of napkins half of them have holes chewed in them and the rest of the napkin is faded due to repeated washings. It's been 5 1/5 years and I still can not bring myself to toss them out. 🤷‍♂️😢
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With dementia & a broken brain, who knows why your mother is wiping her tongue with napkins after eating?? Dementia sufferers do a lot of things that defy explanation, really, as I'm sure you're finding out for yourself. Oral care is a necessity for your mom and something you'll have to do for her, most likely. Here is a link to a guide for you on that very subject:

https://www.dementiauk.org/get-support/maintaining-health-in-dementia/mouth-care-dementia/#signs

My mother is 95 (tomorrow) with advanced dementia herself & always complaining of losing 'little little little baby teeth' which of course isn't the case. If/when she complains of mouth pain or acts like she's having pain, I'll call in the mobile dentist (she lives in Memory Care AL) to check her out. That's a traumatic ordeal for her, as it is for many elders (esp with dementia), so I avoid having the dentist involved until & unless she shows or expresses pain. Otherwise, I just leave things alone.

Best of luck with the new living arrangement.
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