For nursing staff
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Inadequate oral hygiene – a matter of life and death? Inadequate oral hygiene and poor oral health can result in life-threatening conditions in elderly and ill people with impaired general condition. Bacteria can spread from the mouth to other parts of the body, such as the heart and lungs. It is therefore essential that both the teeth and mouth are kept clean! Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of caries and loosening of the teeth which, if left untreated, can result in pain and discomfort in the mouth. These conditions often lead to problems with eating, which can result in malnutrition and a further deterioration in the patient's general condition. With good oral hygiene, these conditions can be avoided. Oral Care - a resource for nursing staff We want nursing staff to think of Oral Care as a resource, and we will be glad to help out with any queries or concerns you may have. And do let us know if any of our dental hygienists or dentists happen to be visiting, so that we can help by providing individual instructions and recommendations for the residents. Oral health cards Following an oral health assessment, each resident is given an oral health card. This describes, among other things, the contents of the mouth, anything that may have to be removed, and recommendations for daily oral care. It might be a good idea to put the cards up in the residents' bathrooms, to make it easy for the nursing staff to follow our recommendations. Training in oral care
Oral Care offers training for nursing staff in oral care. This training is part of our outreach activity and is provided free of charge.
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