Smiling Matters: Oral Care

CQC Smiling Matters 2019 report revealed 6 recommendations for adult social care providers to implement in order to improve patient oral care. We are making progress!

Like everyone, people requiring support at home or living in residential care settings take pride in the state of their mouths, teeth or dentures. They help them to chat, smile, socialise, and enjoy their favourite foods.

Oral health not only enhances people's quality of life, but it is vital to making sure they can eat, drink, take medication and stay healthy. This preventive approach should mean that care staff are making fewer reactive interventions and relieves pressure on primary and secondary healthcare (CQC, 2023).

The NICE guideline NG48, published in July 2016, recognised the importance of good oral care for people in care homes in particular. The CQC's first Smiling matters report in 2019 set out to discover how well care home and dental providers were implementing the guideline. They found that staff awareness of the guideline recommendations was low, and not everyone was supported to keep their teeth or dentures clean (CQC, 2023).

Whilst this CQC report primarily focused on care home practices, a lot can be learned and applied to the home care sector.  Therefore, following CQC's latest progress report in 2023, Bluebird Care Rushcliffe & Melton has made plans to adapt some of the main learning points identified: 

1. Assess people's oral health needs during the initial Care Assessment and at subsequent reviews.

2. Make oral health part of our everyday routine.

3. Check that people have the right dental products and support them to brush twice daily or clean and maintain their dentures.

4. Nominate a staff member to be an oral health champion where possible and give them the appropriate training to cascade their knowledge.

5. If a person experiences unexpected, significant weight loss, review the health of their mouth as a possible cause.

6. Provide training for care staff in oral health during Induction, eLearning and Team Meetings.

As always, we strongly encourage our care team to regularly refer to customer care plans and risk assessments which contain essential information on individual personal care requirements. Our staff also have access to full oral care guidance and 'top tips' on their Nest Staff Guide App. Carers will also strive to provide support to customers in the way they'd most prefer and allow as much independence as safely possible. 

We recommend purchasing a soft bristle toothbrush with an adapted handle, as these are less abrasive and easier to hold / grip. There are also specialist non-foaming toothpastes for people who struggle to rinse and spit out any excess.

For further information on the CQC Smiling Matters Progress Report.