Oral Health

Introduction

Oral health is a vital but often overlooked part of overall health and wellbeing. For many patients — especially older adults, those with disabilities, or people living in care settings — daily mouth care can be difficult without support. Poor oral health can cause pain, infection, malnutrition, and even serious medical complications such as aspiration pneumonia or worsening of heart disease and diabetes.

As a healthcare worker, you are in a unique position. You often see patients every day and may be the first to notice changes in their mouth, their ability to eat, or their comfort when speaking or smiling. By having the right knowledge and confidence, you can play a crucial role in preventing problems, encouraging good daily oral care, and helping patients access dental treatment when needed.

This training course has been developed to give you the essential skills to:

• Recognise the importance of oral health in overall health.

• Support patients with safe and effective daily mouth care.

• Identify early signs of oral disease and know when to escalate concerns.

• Adapt oral care for vulnerable groups such as older adults, children, and those with long-term conditions.

• Understand how to guide patients and families in accessing NHS dental services.

By the end of this training, you should feel more confident in supporting the oral health of the people you care for — improving not just their physical health, but also their comfort, dignity, and quality of life.