National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
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NICE calls on care homes to prioritise the oral health of residents

Care home residents should be helped to brush their teeth twice a day, says NICE

Care homes should assess, record and help residents maintain their oral health.

A new draft quality standard out for consultation advises care home staff to assess the oral health needs of their residents on admission and record these in personal care plans.

They should then be supported to clean their teeth twice a day or their dentures daily.

Professor Elizabeth Kay MBE, foundation dean of Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth University, professor and consultant in dental public health and specialist committee member, said: “Looking after someone’s mouth should be as much a part of the care expected as ensuring their personal hygiene and providing adequate clean clothing.

“Helping care home residents with this basic daily routine maintains not only their oral health but, just as importantly, enhances their dignity and self-esteem.”

NICE, with The Social Care Institute for Excellence, has produced a quick guide resource for care home managers to help them improve the oral health of adults in their care homes.

Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive of NICE, said: “We know that supporting good daily oral health care in care homes varies enormously across the country.

“This draft quality standard prioritises assessment of care home residents, recording of plans and ensuring support is in place for those who need it.

“We are confident that such simple measures could substantially improve the quality of life of many people living in care homes.”

As part of the consultation NICE is asking people to highlight any evidence-based guidance that could be used to develop a statement on daily mouth care in hospitals.

AGE UK estimates 426,000 people live in care homes, approximately 405,000 of whom are over 65.

Consultation on the draft quality standard for oral health in care homes and hospitals is open until 3 February 2017.

Related Resources

Channel website: https://www.nice.org.uk/

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