NICE’s new guidance ‘Oral health for adults in care homes’ calls for oral health and access to dental treatments to be given the same priority as general health.
More than half of older adults in care homes have tooth decay compared to 40% of over 75s and 33% of over 85s who do not live in care homes.
Older adults in care homes are more likely to have fewer natural teeth, and those with teeth are less likely to have enough teeth to eat comfortably and socialise without embarrassment.
Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive of NICE, said: “When oral health is ignored or poorly delivered in care homes it can lead to unhappy, irritable residents and for those with dementia, who often can’t describe problems with their teeth or gums, pain and infection may go untreated and worsen.
“Whilst some care homes provide good daily oral health for their residents, we know oral health is too often neglected.
“Our guideline calls for simple changes that could vastly improve the oral health and quality of life of people who are living in care homes across England.”
Recommendations in the guidance focus on improving and maintaining residents’ day-to-day oral healthcare, ensuring staff are properly trained to confidently look after the oral health needs of residents, and there is adequate access to dental services when needed.
The guidance recommends all residents have an oral health assessment when they enter a care home with the results – including any treatment needs – being entered into their personal care plan.
This will ensure staff can perform routine daily mouth care for those who may not be able to do this for themselves. This would include: brushing natural teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day; daily oral care for full or partial dentures; and daily use of mouth care products prescribed by dental clinicians and any over-the-counter products preferred by residents.
We want Hertfordshire residents to have the opportunity to live the healthiest lives possible and to live safely in their communities. Some of the county’s residents are significantly less healthy than others. We recognise the considerable effect that remaining healthy has on the happiness and life chances of our residents. With responsibility for public health returning to local government, we want all services to work together to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people in Hertfordshire, with early measures taken to tackle health inequalities.
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