Why is mouth care important?
A healthy mouth is important to your health and well-being.
People with a learning disability are more likely to have problems with their oral health than the general population.
Poor oral health can lead to a build-up of plaque on your teeth and gums which can cause gum disease and tooth decay. This can cause pain and discomfort and make it difficult and unpleasant to eat and drink.
Poor oral health is also associated with other health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
Why is poor mouth care a risk factor for healthy lungs?
There is a strong link between poor mouth care and developing chest infections and pneumonia.
You have lots of bacteria that live in your mouth. Most of the time this doesn’t cause any problems but if you have poor oral hygiene, gum disease or tooth decay this can cause the bacteria to multiply. These bacteria can travel to the lungs where they can cause chest infections and pneumonias.
What does a healthy mouth look like?
- Your gums, tongue and cheeks should be healthy and pink.
- Your mouth should be moist with saliva
- Your gums should not bleed when you brush them
- You should not be able to see any plaque on your teeth
- Your teeth should not be decayed or cracked
- You should not have a sore mouth, ulcers, swelling, red or white patches.
Problems with your mouth
Tooth decay
Tooth decay happens when bugs (bacteria) in your mouth mixes with the sugar you eat causing holes in your teeth (tooth decay).
If you can eat and drink what you choose can help prevent tooth decay
- Try to avoid sugary foods and drinks.
- Milk and water are safe drinks for teeth.
- Tea and coffee with no sugar or a sweetener are safe in moderation.
- Sip water regularly to help keep your mouth moist. This will make food easier to swallow.
- Try to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
Gum disease
Brushing your teeth and gums every day helps to reduce the risk of disease and keeps your gums healthy.
Bleeding when you are toothbushing can be a sign of unhealthy gums.
It is important that you do not stop brushing.
- You should brush your teeth two times a day.
- Brush last thing at night and on one other occasion.
- Brush all surfaces of your teeth and gums using small circular motions.
- If you cannot brush all your teeth in one go you should brush more often.
- You should aim to brush all areas of the mouth at least once a day.
If you have swallowing difficulties or a feeding tube, you can have more bacteria (plaque) in your mouth.
These bacteria can travel to the lungs where they can cause chest infections and pneumonia.
Dry mouth
A dry mouth can be uncomfortable and can make it difficult for you to eat, speak and swallow. A lack of saliva can also increase your risk of tooth decay.
You may have a dry mouth if you are not eating or drinking enough and you have become dehydrated.
A dry mouth can be a side effect from tablets and medication. Speak to your dentist if you have a dry mouth
Tips for a dry mouth
Try to have regular sips of water or sugar free juices.
Keep your tongue clean, if your mouth is dry your tongue can become cracked and sore.
Keep your lips moist with lip balm or a water based mouth moisturising gel.
Cut down on things that might dry your mouth such as alcohol and caffeine
Your dentist can look at what is causing you to have a dry mouth and can prescribe treatments and products that can help.
Oral thrush
- Oral thrush is a fungal infection in the mouth.
- Oral thrush causes white patches in the mouth, a loss of taste or an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
- It can cause cracks at the corners of the mouth.
- It can cause redness and a painful burning sensation in the mouth and throat.
- Sometimes the symptoms of oral thrush can make eating and drinking more difficult.
- You should see your doctor or dentist if you think you might have oral thrush.
- If you have symptoms, it is sometimes treated with antifungal medication
Signs that something might be wrong
- A change in behaviour or a new behaviour for example, putting fingers in mouth, holding face
- A swollen face, mouth ulcers or bleeding from the mouth
- Increased salivation
- A change in appetite, only eating on one side of the mouth or avoiding hard foods
- Disturbed sleep
- A reluctance to have teeth brushed
Dental Care
It is important that you see your dentist regularly for check ups even if you have no teeth. Your dentist will tell you how often you need to visit.
Local Dental Care
If you don’t have a dentist, you can search for an NHS dentist near you Find a dentist – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Dental emergency and out-of-hours care
If you think you need urgent care contact your usual dentist, if you have one.
You can also contact NHS 111 Get help for your symptoms – NHS 111 who can put you in touch with an urgent dental service.
You can get help from 111 if you have:
Severe pain
Heavy bleeding
Swelling of your mouth, throat, neck or eye
When to go to A&E
Always contact your dentist first.
Only visit A&E in serious circumstances such as:
Severe injuries to your face, mouth, or teeth.
Severe or increasing swelling in your mouth, throat or neck, making it difficult to breathe, swallow or speak
If you are not sure if you should go to A&E contact NHS 111
You can find more information about good oral care
In the Oral Care section.
Information for carers:
Oral health toolkit for adults in care homes – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
British Society for Disability and Oral Health and British Society for Gerodontology- Looking after the mouth for carers:https://youtu.be/7s9zZOpCDBc
For carers | Oral Health Foundation (dentalhealth.org)
NHS England- How to provide care for patients with a dry mouth in hospital: https://youtu.be/nKN6-HbZ_D8?list=PLrVQaAxyJE3eYeayCLSUFpxtkMxWmRo7L
Information on mouth conditions