CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>   <html class="no-js" lang="en" dir="ltr">  <head> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/sites/all/themes/bgs/icons/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/sites/all/themes/bgs/icons/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/sites/all/themes/bgs/icons/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="manifest" href="/sites/all/themes/bgs/icons/manifest.json"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/sites/all/themes/bgs/icons/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#642f6c"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#642f6c"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#642f6c"> <script src="https://use.typekit.net/qpa3efa.js"></script> <script>try{Typekit.load({ async: true });}catch(e){}</script>  <link rel="preconnect" href="//www.googletagmanager.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//www.googletagmanager.com" /> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /> <script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?hl=en" async="async" defer="defer"></script> <meta name="description" content="The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is concerned about the significant impact that poor oral health is having on older people鈥檚 general health and quality of life." /> <meta name="abstract" content="The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is concerned about the significant impact that poor oral health is having on older people鈥檚 general health and quality of life." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/node/385" /> <meta http-equiv="content-language" content="en" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="British Geriatrics Society" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Improving oral health in older people | British Geriatrics Society" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is concerned about the significant impact that poor oral health is having on older people鈥檚 general health and quality of life." /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Improving oral health in older people | British Geriatrics Society" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is concerned about the significant impact that poor oral health is having on older people鈥檚 general health and quality of" /> <title>Improving oral health in older people | British Geriatrics Society</title> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("/modules/system/system.base.css?sn052y"); @import url("/modules/system/system.theme.css?sn052y"); </style> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("/modules/comment/comment.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/date/date_popup/themes/datepicker.1.7.css?sn052y"); @import url("/modules/field/theme/field.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/fitvids/fitvids.css?sn052y"); @import url("/modules/node/node.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/picture/picture_wysiwyg.css?sn052y"); @import url("/modules/search/search.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/simpleads/simpleads.css?sn052y"); @import url("/modules/user/user.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/extlink/extlink.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/views/css/views.css?sn052y"); </style> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("/sites/all/modules/ctools/css/ctools.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/libraries/photoswipe/dist/photoswipe.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/libraries/photoswipe/dist/default-skin/default-skin.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/civicrm/css/crm-i.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/civicrm/css/civicrm.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/webform/css/webform.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/hide_submit/css/ladda-themeless.min.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/modules/hide_submit/css/hide_submit.css?sn052y"); </style> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("/sites/all/themes/bgs/css/magnific-popup.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/themes/bgs/css/bgs.css?sn052y"); @import url("/sites/all/themes/bgs/css/vedacustom.css?sn052y"); </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/jquery_update/replace/jquery/1.9/jquery.js?v=1.9.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/misc/jquery-extend-3.4.0.js?v=1.9.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/misc/jquery-html-prefilter-3.5.0-backport.js?v=1.9.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/misc/jquery.once.js?v=1.2"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/misc/drupal.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/libraries/fitvids/jquery.fitvids.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/highcharttable/js/highcharttable.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/jquery_update/replace/ui/external/jquery.cookie.js?v=67fb34f6a866c40d0570"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/jquery_update/replace/misc/jquery.form.js?v=2.69"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/misc/ajax.js?v=7.74"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/jquery_update/js/jquery_update.js?v=0.0.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/admin_menu/admin_devel/admin_devel.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/fitvids/fitvids.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/simpleads/simpleads.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/spamspan/spamspan.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/extlink/extlink.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/iframe/iframe.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/views/js/base.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/misc/progress.js?v=7.74"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/captcha/captcha.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/webform_conditional/webform_conditional.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/libraries/photoswipe/dist/photoswipe.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/libraries/photoswipe/dist/photoswipe-ui-default.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/google_analytics/googleanalytics.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-47703711-1"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/libraries/highcharts/js/highcharts.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/highcharttable/libraries/variants/jquery.highchartTable-patched.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/views/js/ajax_view.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/webform/js/webform.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/hide_submit/js/hide_submit.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/hide_submit/js/spin.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/hide_submit/js/ladda.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/jquery.smartmenus.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/jquery.matchheight.mod.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/slick/slick.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/js.cookie.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/resizesensor.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/jquery.navscroll.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/jquery.sticky-sidebar.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/jquery.magnific-popup.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/jquery.shorten.min.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/jquery.shorten.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/scripts.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/themes/bgs/js/bgs.behaviour.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in two-sidebars page-node page-node- page-node-385 node-type-resource sticky-sidebars i18n-en british-geriatrics-society bgs-org-uk role-anonymous-user menu-depth-2" > <script id="_informizely_script_tag" type="text/javascript"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/d80f25f3-2290-42a7-a35f-837905591d26.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); })(document); </script> <noscript><a href="https://www.informizely.com/">Informizely customer feedback surveys</a></noscript> <div role="document" class="page"> <header id="site-header"> <div class="header-outer-wrapper"> <div class="header-inner-wrapper"> <div class="wrapper-site-branding"> <div class="site-branding"> <h2 class="site-title"> <a href="/" title="Home" rel="home"><span>British Geriatrics Society</span></a> </h2> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-region-header"> <section class="block block-menu"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/become-a-member-of-the-bgs" title="">Join</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/user/register" title="">Join</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/user/login?current=node/385" title="">Login</a></li> </ul> </section> <section class="block block-views"> <div class="view view-header-sections view-id-header_sections view-display-id-social view-display-grid view-dom-id-2b09d33b64137bba3af9ca6ed5de52f1"> <div class="view-content view-content-main"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last section-row -field-row -field-palette"> <div class="card-follow-us-on"> <div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first"><div class='card-links'><a href="https://facebook.com/BGS1947" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </div></li> <li><div class='card-links'><a href="https://twitter.com/GeriSoc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </div></li> <li class="last"><div class='card-links'><a href="http://linkedin.com/company/british-geriatrics-society" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> </div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="main-nav-wrapper"> <nav id="main-navigation" class="main-navigation"> <section class="block block-menu-block"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-1 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-1"> <input id="main-menu-state" type="checkbox" /><label class="main-menu-btn" for="main-menu-state"><span class="main-menu-btn-icon"></span> Toggle main menu visibility</label> <ul class="menu"><li class="first expanded menu-mlid-9196"><a href="/bgs-elearning">BGS elearning</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-9198"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/elearning/delirium-in-older-people-elearning" title="">Delirium elearning</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9197"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/elearning/frailty-elearning-course" title="">Frailty elearning</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9216"><a href="/elearning/oncogeriatrics-elearning-0">Oncogeriatrics elearning</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-6697"><a href="/about/become-a-member-of-the-bgs" title="">Join BGS</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3618"><a href="/blog" title="">Blog</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-6766"><a href="/events">Events</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-6835"><a href="/events" title="">Upcoming events</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-8769"><a href="/abstracts">Abstract submission</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9165"><a href="/funded">Funded places</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9098"><a href="/events/hybrid-event-faqs">Hybrid Event FAQs</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-6827"><a href="/events/past-events" title="">On Demand and Past events</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-8771"><a href="/events/sponsorship" title="Sponsorship Opportunities">Sponsorship</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-6830"><a href="/events/external-events">External events</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first last leaf menu-mlid-9195"><a href="/events/external-events/add-an-external-event">Add an external event</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last expanded menu-mlid-6829"><a href="/events/external-courses" title="">External courses and examinations</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-6844"><a href="/events/external-courses/add-an-external-course">Add an external course</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9140"><a href="/DGM">Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM)</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3631"><a href="/policy-and-media" title="">News & Policy</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-9112"><a href="/policy-and-media/news-policy">Latest news and policy</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9215"><a href="/choose">#ChooseGeriatrics</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9147"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/campaigns" title="">Campaigns</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded active-trail menu-mlid-3334"><a href="/resources" class="active-trail">Resources</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first expanded menu-mlid-9186"><a href="/resources/bgs-hubs">BGS Hubs</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-9187"><a href="/node/5805/" title="">Frailty Hub</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9188"><a href="/deliriumhub" title="">Delirium Hub</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9189"><a href="/QIHub" title="">QI Hub</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9190"><a href="/research" title="">Research Hub</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3704"><a href="/resources/resource-series">Resources by series</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3706"><a href="/resources/topics">Resources by topic</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first expanded menu-mlid-8776"><a href="http://www.bgs.org.uk/covid-19" title="">COVID</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-8777"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/resource-series/coronavirus-and-older-people" title="">For healthcare professionals</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-8778"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/coronavirus-advice-to-older-people" title="">For the public</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-8779"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/media-enquiries" title="">Media enquiries</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9101"><a href="/http%3A/www.bgs.org.uk/covid-19/covid-19-research">Research and trials</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-5651"><a href="/topics/acute-care" title="Acute Care">Acute Care</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-5653"><a href="/topics/deconditioning-rehabilitation" title="Deconditioning">Deconditioning</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5656"><a href="/topics/emergency-care" title="Emergency care">Emergency care</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5657"><a href="/topics/end-of-life-care" title="End of life care">End of life care</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5658"><a href="/topics/patient-safety" title="Patient safety">Patient safety</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5659"><a href="/topics/patientfamily-involvement" title="Patient/Family Involvement">Patient/Family Involvement</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5655"><a href="/topics/peri-operative-care-for-surgical-patients" title="Peri-operative care for surgical patients">Peri-operative care for surgical patients</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-5652"><a href="/topics/cga-in-acute-settings" title="Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in acute settings">Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in acute settings</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-5660"><a href="/topics/primary-and-community-care" title="Primary and Community Care">Primary and Community Care</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-9109"><a href="/topics/care-homes" title="Care Homes">Care Homes</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5662"><a href="/topics/commissioning" title="Commissioning">Commissioning</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5664"><a href="/topics/healthy-ageing" title="Healthy Ageing">Healthy Ageing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-6968"><a href="/topics/transfer-of-care" title="Transfer of Care">Transfer of Care</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5661"><a href="/topics/cga-in-community-settings" title="Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in community settings">Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in community settings</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5667"><a href="/topics/digital-health-ampamp-technology" title="Digital Health and Technology">Digital Health and Technology</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-5707"><a href="/topics/eyes-and-ears" title="Eyes, Ears and Teeth">Eyes, Ears and Teeth</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-7717"><a href="/topics/cross-cutting-primaryacute" title="Cross-cutting Primary/Acute">Cross-cutting Primary/Acute</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-5654"><a href="/topics/dignity" title="Dignity">Dignity</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5663"><a href="/topics/frailty-indexes" title="Frailty indexes">Frailty indexes</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5665"><a href="/topics/integrated-care" title="Integrated care">Integrated care</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9110"><a href="/topics/rehabilitation" title="Rehabilitation">Rehabilitation</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-5666"><a href="/topics/prescribing%20and%20medication%20management" title="Prescribing and medication management">Prescribing and medication management</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-9172"><a href="/topics/clinical-quality" title="Clinical Quality">Clinical Quality</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-9173"><a href="/topics/quality-improvement" title="Quality Improvement">Quality Improvement</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9185"><a href="/QIHub" title="">QI Hub</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-5695"><a href="/topics/research" title="Research">Research</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-6861"><a href="/topics/grants-fellowships-and-research-proposals" title="Grants, Fellowships and Research Proposals">Grants, Fellowships and Research Proposals</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9184"><a href="/research" title="">Research Hub</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-5685"><a href="/topics/general" title="General">General</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-5687"><a href="/topics/allied-healthcare-professionals" title="Allied Healthcare Professionals">Allied Health Professionals</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5688"><a href="/topics/demographics" title="demographics">Demographics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5689"><a href="/topics/education-training-and-careers" title="Education, Training and Careers">Education, Training and Careers</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5690"><a href="/topics/ethics-and-law" title="Ethics and Law">Ethics and Law</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5691"><a href="/topics/health-and-social-care-policy" title="Health and social care policy">Health and social care policy</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5692"><a href="/topics/history-of-geriatric-medicine" title="History of Geriatric medicine">History of Geriatric medicine</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5693"><a href="/topics/nice-guidelines" title="NICE guidelines">NICE guidelines</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5694"><a href="/topics/nursing" title="Nursing">Nursing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5696"><a href="/topics/workforce" title="Workforce">Workforce</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9116"><a href="/topics/wellbeing" title="Wellbeing">Wellbeing</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-5668"><a href="/topics/specific-conditions" title="Specific conditions">Specific conditions</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-5669"><a href="/topics/balance-disorders" title="Balance disorders">Balance disorders</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5672"><a href="/topics/continence" title="Continence">Continence</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9111"><a href="/topics/covid-19" title="COVID-19">COVID-19</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5673"><a href="/topics/delirium" title="Delirium">Delirium</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5674"><a href="/topics/dementia" title="Dementia">Dementia</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5677"><a href="/topics/frailty" title="Frailty">Frailty</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5678"><a href="/topics/mental-health" title="Mental Health">Mental Health</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5679"><a href="/topics/movement-disorders" title="Movement Disorders including Parkinsons">Movement Disorders including Parkinsons</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5680"><a href="/topics/multimorbidity" title="Multimorbidity">Multimorbidity</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5681"><a href="/topics/nutrition" title="Nutrition">Nutrition</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5682"><a href="/topics/pain" title="Pain">Pain</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5683"><a href="/topics/stroke" title="Stroke">Stroke</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5684"><a href="/topics/tissue-viability" title="Tissue Viability">Tissue Viability</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5671"><a href="/topics/cardiovascular-health" title="Cardiovascular Health">Cardiovascular Health</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5675"><a href="/topics/diabetes" title="Endocrinology">Endocrinology</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-5676"><a href="/topics/falls-joints-bone-health" title="Falls and Balance">Falls and Balance</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-5670"><a href="/topics/oncogeriatrics" title="Oncogeriatrics">Oncogeriatrics</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9214"><a href="/topics/choosegeriatrics" title="#ChooseGeriatrics">#ChooseGeriatrics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9203"><a href="/topics/admission" title="Admission">Admission</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9204"><a href="/topics/advance-care-planning" title="Advance Care Planning">Advance Care Planning</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9205"><a href="/topics/alternative-therapy" title="Alternative therapy">Alternative therapy</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9206"><a href="/topics/biology-of-ageing" title="Biology of Ageing">Biology of Ageing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9208"><a href="/topics/community-care" title="Community Care">Community Care</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9209"><a href="/topics/continuing-professional-development-cpd" title="Continuing Professional Development (CPD)">Continuing Professional Development (CPD)</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9210"><a href="/topics/disability" title="Disability">Disability</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9211"><a href="/topics/discharge-planning" title="Discharge planning">Discharge planning</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9212"><a href="/topics/dysphagiaswallowing" title="Dysphagia/Swallowing">Dysphagia/Swallowing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9213"><a href="/topics/exercise" title="Exercise">Exercise</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9202"><a href="/topics/hospital-at-home" title="Hospital at Home">Hospital at Home</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-7705"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources" title="">Resources by date</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9107"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources?keywords=&group=All&type=All&field_resource_series_target_id_selective=All&tag=All&authors=All&from_date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&to_date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&sort_by=score" title="">Search resources</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3797"><a href="/AAAjournal">Age and Ageing journal</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3577"><a href="/bgs-groups">BGS groups</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-3575"><a href="/about/national-regional-groups" title="">Nations & Regions</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-8435"><a href="/bgs-groups/bgs-special-interest-groups">Professions & Special Interest</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last expanded menu-mlid-3256"><a href="/about">About</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-5591"><a href="/about/become-a-member-of-the-bgs">Become a member</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3796"><a href="/about/our-purpose">Who we are</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first expanded menu-mlid-3710"><a href="/about/our-purpose/bgs-trustees-and-officers">Our Board of Trustees</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-7680"><a href="/about/our-purpose/bgs-trustees-and-officers/bgs-elections">BGS Elections</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-8767"><a href="/agm" title="">AGM</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-9160"><a href="/about/our-purpose/bgs-trustees-and-officers/past-presidents">Past Presidents</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-7754"><a href="/about/our-purpose/bgs-staff">Our Staff Team</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-8768"><a href="/strategy">Our Strategy</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-6700"><a href="/about/our-purpose/library-and-archives">Our History</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-9104"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/get-involved" title="">Get involved</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-9108"><a href="/https%3A/www.bgs.org.uk/get-involved/get-involved">How to get involved</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-6967"><a href="/https%3A/www.bgs.org.uk/get-involved/our-partner-organisations">Our partner organisations</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-6698"><a href="/bgsvacancies">Vacancies</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-8438"><a href="/bgsvacancies" title="">BGS vacancies</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-7718"><a href="/about/external-vacancies" title="">External vacancies</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-8437"><a href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/submit-job-advert" title="">Submit a job vacancy</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-9096"><a href="/about/make-a-donation">Donate</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3711"><a href="/about/contact">Contact us</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></div> </section> <section class="block block-block search-toggle-wrapper"> <div class="search-toggle">Search</div> </section> <section class="block block-search"> <form action="/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people" method="post" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="container-inline"> <h2>Search</h2> <div class="form-wrapper"> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-search-block-form--2">Search </label> <input title="Enter the terms you wish to search for." type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search_block_form" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" class="form-text" /> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="form-submit" /></div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-v6Eqic-8jGCDdqL7jHJ7IyDCAPKZh5bPsDm5FgFCxD8" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_block_form" /> </div> </div> </div></form> </section> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <section id="breadcrumb"> <div class="outer-wrapper"> <div class="breadcrumb"><span class="first"><a href="/">Home</a></span><span class="crumb-1"><a href="/resources">Resources</a></span><span class="last">Resources</span></div> </div> </section> <div class="tabs outer-wrapper"> </div> <main role="main"> <div class="outer-wrapper"> <aside id="sidebar-first" role="complementary" class="sidebar"> <div id="block-block-1" class="block block-block soc-accelerators"> <div class="soc-accelerators-inner"><div class="block-content-wrapper clearfix"> <h2>Share</h2> <div class="content"> <div class="card-links"> <ul> <li class="facebook"><a title="Share on Facebook." href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people&t=Improving+oral+health+in+older+people" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Share on Facebook</a></li> <li class="twitter"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share this on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people&text=Improving+oral+health+in+older+people">Tweet</a></li> <li class="linkedin"><a title="Share on LinkedIn" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people&title=Improving+oral+health+in+older+people]&source=ALNAP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Share on LinkedIn</a></li> <li class="email"><a title="Share by Email" href="mailto:?subject=I wanted you to see this site&body=Check out this site https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people" rel="nofollow">Share by Email</a></li> <li class="calendar"> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> </aside> <section id="content"> <div class="content-main"> <article id="node-385" class="node node-resource node-content" about="/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document"> <div class="resource-header node-header"> <h1><div class="card-full-title"> Improving dental health is essential to improving overall health </div> </h1> <span property="dc:title" content="Improving oral health in older people" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span property="sioc:num_replies" content="0" datatype="xsd:integer" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> <div class="resource-header-details"> <div class="card-resource-type-i"> <div class="card-resource-type"> Report </div> <div class="resource-type-i-icon">i</div> <div class="resource-type-info-arrow"></div> </div> <div class="resource-type-info"><div class="resource-type-info-text"></div></div> </div> <div class="node-header-details"> <div class="card-authors-wrapper"><div class="label">Authors:</div><div class="author-details">British Geriatrics Society</div></div> <div class="card-topics-wrapper"><div class="label">Topics:</div><a href="/taxonomy/term/2935">Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in community settings</a>, <a href="/taxonomy/term/854">Healthy Ageing</a>, <a href="/taxonomy/term/866">Nursing</a></div> <div class="node-header-dates"> <div class="card-date-wrapper"><div class="label">Date Published:</div><div class="card-date"> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2017-08-15T00:00:00+01:00">15 August 2017</span> </div> </div> <div class="card-date-updated"> <div class="label">Last updated: </div> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2017-08-15T10:25:00+01:00">15 August 2017</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="card-resource-summary"> <p>The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is concerned about the significant impact that poor oral health is having on older people’s general health and quality of life. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is concerned about the significant impact that poor oral health is having on older people’s general health and quality of life. As well as causing pain and making it difficult to speak, eat and take medication, poor oral health is linked to conditions such as malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at least 1.8 million people aged 65 and over could have an urgent dental condition such as dental pain, oral sepsis or extensive decay in untreated teeth. By 2040, this number could increase by more than 50%.</p> </div> </div> <div class="view view-sections view-id-sections view-display-id-additional view-dom-id-1d3d9912b8a22aab92a6c4fe118d3b33"> <div class="view-content view-content-main"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last section-row palette-default "> <div class="section-inner"> <div class="card-body"> <p>There is an urgent need to improve oral healthcare for older people, and this report makes the following recommendations for doing so. Although primarily applicable to England, <strong>a number of proposals are also relevant for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Key health professionals in acute and community care settings should receive training in oral health. This includes nursing staff, junior doctors, pharmacists, geriatricians and all other healthcare staff who have regular contact with older people.</li> <li>Social care providers should give their staff appropriate training about oral health and care, as well as ensuring that all services have an oral care policy and cover oral health as part of initial health assessments. Oral health should always be included in the personalised care plans of those receiving social care.</li> <li>Preventative advice on maintaining good oral health should be easily available for older people themselves, their families and their carers.</li> <li>Government, health services, local authorities, care providers, regulators and the oral health profession should work together to develop a strategy for improving access to dental services for older people.</li> <li>Health and social care regulators should ensure that standards of oral care are assessed during their inspections of care homes and hospitals, and the Healthwatch network should consider how it can promote the importance of oral health. A ‘kite-mark’ scheme should be developed for care homes and providers that can demonstrate good practice in oral healthcare.</li> <li>All hospitals and care homes should have policies in place to minimise denture loss. These should include checking whether a patient has dentures on admission, and ensuring that staff always check for dentures when disposing of food trays and changing bed linen. Hospitals and care homes should also have protocols for when dentures are lost. Patients’ names should be added to all dentures during or after manufacture, and oral care should be part of end-of-life care pathways.</li> <li>More data around older people’s oral health is needed. NHS Digital’s quarterly dental statistics, which only give figures on access to dental services for the overall adult population, should provide a breakdown for people aged 65–74, 75–84, and 85 and over. The Adult Dental Health Survey must also continue monitoring developments in older people’s oral health.</li> <li>Demand for dental services will increase as the population grows and ages. Government must regularly review whether dentistry is sufficiently resourced to meet this, and the oral health profession should ensure its educational curricula reflect older people’s changing needs. The importance of oral health must be recognised in any wider reforms to health and social care.</li> </ul> <p>Good oral health is an essential part of older people’s health care. For older people living with frailty it is critical to ensuring they are hydrated and their nutritional needs are well supported. Poor oral health care can lead to difficulties in eating, and absorbing medications properly. There are also known links between poor oral health care and pneumonia and heart disease. Getting oral health care right is a key part of supporting older people’s health, wellbeing and dignity.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="content-additional"> <div id="block-webform-client-block-227" class="block block-webform"> <h2 class="resource-feedback-toggle">Feedback on this resource?</h2> <div class="content"> <div id="webform-ajax-wrapper-227"><form class="webform-client-form webform-client-form-227" action="/resources/improving-oral-health-in-older-people" method="post" id="webform-client-form-227" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="webform-email form-item webform-component webform-component-email webform-component--email webform-container-inline"> <label for="edit-submitted-email">Email </label> <input class="email form-text form-email" type="email" id="edit-submitted-email" name="submitted[email]" size="60" /> <div class="description">If you鈥檇 like us to contact you, please leave your email</div> </div> <div class="webform-feedback form-item webform-component webform-component-textarea webform-component--comment webform-container-inline"> <label for="edit-submitted-comment">Your feedback <span class="form-required" title="This field is required.">*</span></label> <div class="form-textarea-wrapper"><textarea required="required" placeholder="(max 300 words)" id="edit-submitted-comment" name="submitted[comment]" cols="60" rows="3" class="form-textarea required"></textarea></div> </div> <input type="hidden" name="details[sid]" /> <input type="hidden" name="details[page_num]" value="1" /> <input type="hidden" name="details[page_count]" value="1" /> <input type="hidden" name="details[finished]" value="0" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-UOSF2reTuhYzCFcrQEasOaV8ki564xa5Dx3epS8fPDw" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="webform_client_form_227" /> <input type="hidden" name="webform_ajax_wrapper_id" value="webform-ajax-wrapper-227" /> <fieldset class="captcha form-wrapper"><legend><span class="fieldset-legend">CAPTCHA</span></legend><div class="fieldset-wrapper"><div class="fieldset-description">This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.</div><input type="hidden" name="captcha_sid" value="8292235" /> <input type="hidden" name="captcha_token" value="2583818e531762353b38a52730e708c2" /> <input type="hidden" name="captcha_response" value="Google no captcha" /> <div class="g-recaptcha" data-sitekey="6LdxcUsUAAAAABXmfqM-hujH0UGJIQjSzRbBKU2w" data-theme="light" data-type="image"></div></div></fieldset> <div class="form-actions"><input class="webform-submit button-primary form-submit" id="edit-webform-ajax-submit-227" type="submit" name="op" value="Send" /></div></div></form></div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <aside id="sidebar-second" role="complementary" class="sidebar"> <div class="sidebar-second-wrapper"> <section class="block block-views side-row resource-dl-block"> <h2 class="block-title">Download</h2> <div class="view view-resource-download view-id-resource_download view-display-id-download view-dom-id-90fa7b247de8f7729cee87d452b9150d"> <div class="view-content view-content-main"> <div> <div class="views-field views-field-view"> <div class="card-view"> <span class="field-content"><div class="view view-resource-download view-id-resource_download view-display-id-resource_node_file view-dom-id-954f8d894077abc2865f7fb12eeef818"> <div class="view-content view-content-main"> <div> <div class="views-field views-field-nothing"> <span class="field-content"><a class="attachment-link download-resource" target="_blank" href="https://www.bgs.org.uk/sites/default/files/content/resources/files/2018-03-15/2017_improving_fds.pdf"><div class="resource-cover"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bgs.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/download_cover/public/content/resources/files/covers/616-0.jpg?itok=calKoN4l&c=6df116bf40315e468c437635f6b94ca2" alt="" /></div> <div class="file-icon file-type-pdf"><div class="file-name">Improving older people's oral health - report</div><div class="file-details"><div class="file-extension">pdf</div><div class="file-size">850.9 KB</div></div></div> </a></span> </div> </div> </div> </div></span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </aside> </div> </main> <section class="postscript-first"> <div class="postscript_first"> <section class="block block-views postscript-section-row-block"> <h2 class="block-title">You may also be interested in</h2> <div class="view view-resource-series view-id-resource_series view-display-id-related_auto_manual view-dom-id-379eb91f710f63f949b39cb10a73c98d"> <div class="view-content view-content-main"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="card-views-conditional"> <div class="view view-resource-series view-id-resource_series view-display-id-related section-row row-max-4 view-card-default-palette view-dom-id-da39adb0e202052466ffa62d29a9916a"> <div class="view-content view-content-main"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <a class="card resource-card" href="/blog/can-comprehensive-geriatric-assessment-make-a-difference-to-care-home-residents-%C2%A0"><div class="card-text"><div class="card-content"> <div class="card-title"> <h3>Can Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment make a difference to care home residents? 聽</h3> </div> <div class="card-date-display-override"> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2016-03-03T00:00:00+00:00">03 Mar 2016</span> </div> <div class="card-summary"> <div class="card-summary-wrapper"> <div class="card-summary"> Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) works. At least, it does when performed in an inpatient setting in an acute hospital. This has been shown over numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses to be the case.  Older people with frailty who receive CGA experience better outcomes in terms of functional status, cognition, readmissions to hospital and numbers of days spent at home. </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="card-footer"> </div></div></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </section> <footer id="site-footer" role="contentinfo"> <section class="footer-first"> <div class="outer-wrapper"> <section class="block block-views"> <div class="view view-footer-sections view-id-footer_sections view-display-id-orgs view-display-grid view-dom-id-38d91824df145b5e272f7baa51b29bdb"> <div class="view-header"> <script> if(jQuery('#Main.CRM_Contribute_Form_Contribution_Main').length > 0){ jQuery('#Main.CRM_Contribute_Form_Contribution_Main').on('submit',function(e){ setTimeout(function(){ e.preventDefault(); let firstInvalidElement = jQuery('label.crm-inline-error:visible:first'); if(firstInvalidElement){ let fid=firstInvalidElement.attr('for'); let originalDisplay = jQuery('#'+fid).css('display'); jQuery('#'+fid).css('display', 'block'); jQuery('#'+fid).focus(); jQuery('#'+fid).css('display', originalDisplay); } },100) }); } </script> </div> <div class="view-content view-content-main"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first section-row palette-default "> <div class="card-title"> <h2 class="field-content">Contact us</h2> </div> <div class="card-body"> <h6>British Geriatrics Society</h6> <p>Marjory Warren House<br /> 31 St John’s Square<br /> London EC1M 4DN</p> <p><a class="arrow" href="/about/contact">Visit us</a></p> <p><strong>Tel:</strong> +44 (0)20 7608 1369</p> <p><a href="/about/contact">Email us</a></p> <p class="smaller-text">Charity No 268762<br /> Company No 1189776 (England and Wales)</p> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even section-row palette-default "> <div class="card-title"> <h2 class="field-content">Quick links</h2> </div> <div class="card-body"> <p><a href="/media-enquiries">Media enquiries</a></p> <p><a href="/AGENDA">AGENDA</a></p> <p><a href="/about/what-we-do/age-and-ageing"><em>Age and Ageing</em> Journal</a></p> <p><a href="/about/make-a-donation">Donate</a></p> <p><a href="/blog">Our blog</a></p> <p><a href="/about/what-we-do/research-opportunities-and-cpd">BGS Grants</a></p> <p><a href="/about/bgs-vacancies">Jobs/Vacancies</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd section-row "> <div class="card-title"> <h2 class="field-content">Follow us</h2> </div> <div class="card-follow-us-on"> <div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first"><div class='card-links'><a href="https://facebook.com/BGS1947" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </div></li> <li><div class='card-links'><a href="https://twitter.com/GeriSoc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </div></li> <li class="last"><div class='card-links'><a href="http://linkedin.com/company/british-geriatrics-society" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> </div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last section-row palette-default "> <div class="card-title"> <h2 class="field-content">Sign up for our e-bulletin</h2> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a href="/user/register" class="button">Sign up</a> <style> .webform-container-inline.webform-datepicker div, .webform-container-inline.webform-datepicker input { display: inline-block !important; margin-top: 1em; } select { padding-right: 39px; background-size: 29px; } #multiple_block > input { display: inline-block; } </style> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </section> <section class="footer-third"> <div class="outer-wrapper"> <section class="block block-menu"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/terms-of-use">Website Terms of use</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/privacy-statement">Privacy Statement</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/membership-terms-and-conditions" title="ToC governing membership of the BGS">Membership Terms and Conditions</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/event-booking-terms-and-conditions" title="">Event Booking Terms and Conditions</a></li> </ul> </section> <div id="manta-ray-media">Built by <a href="http://www.mantaraymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Manta Ray Media</a></div> </div> </section> </footer> </div>  <div class="pswp" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-hidden="true">  <div class="pswp__bg"></div>  <div class="pswp__scroll-wrap">  <div class="pswp__container"> <div class="pswp__item"></div> <div class="pswp__item"></div> <div class="pswp__item"></div> </div>  <div class="pswp__ui pswp__ui--hidden"> <div class="pswp__top-bar">  <div class="pswp__counter"></div> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--close" title="Close (Esc)"></button> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--share" title="Share"></button> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--fs" title="Toggle fullscreen"></button> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--zoom" title="Zoom in/out"></button>   <div class="pswp__preloader"> <div class="pswp__preloader__icn"> <div class="pswp__preloader__cut"> <div class="pswp__preloader__donut"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="pswp__share-modal pswp__share-modal--hidden pswp__single-tap"> <div class="pswp__share-tooltip"></div> </div> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--arrow--left" title="Previous (arrow left)"> </button> <button class="pswp__button pswp__button--arrow--right" title="Next (arrow right)"> </button> <div class="pswp__caption"> <div class="pswp__caption__center"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="/sites/all/modules/picture/picturefill2/picturefill.min.js?v=2.3.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="/sites/all/modules/picture/picture.min.js?v=7.74"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/photoswipe/js/photoswipe.jquery.js?sn052y"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/sites/all/modules/mautic-drupal/js/mauticform-prefill.js?sn052y"></script> </body> </html>