Healthy Living Pharmacy: Holding an awareness event/campaign on oral health

The below tool can be used to gather information to establish the level of oral health in the local area:

• Public Health England – Oral Health Profile: The indicators contained within this oral health profile will support professionals to focus on and prioritise oral health and oral health improvement initiatives, particularly among young children and vulnerable adults.

• Communicating with patients page on the Community Pharmacy England website

• Healthy Living Pharmacies page on the Community Pharmacy England website

• Community Pharmacy England Briefing 032/19: Healthy Living Pharmacy – Holding a health promotion event/campaign

• Community Pharmacy England Briefing 010/17: Updated NHS Identity Guidelines – NHS logo use by pharmacies

• Community Pharmacy England on-demand webinar: Making the most of social media

• Social media guide for community pharmacy teams and LPCs 

• National Smile Month – Facts and figures

• Public Health England – Health matters: child dental health

• Public Health England – Oral health survey of 5-year old children: 2014 to 2015 

• BMJ Learning – Motivational interviewing in brief consultations

• e-Learning for Healthcare – Improving Mouth Care

• e-Learning for Healthcare – Making Every Contact Count e-learning

• e-Learning for Healthcare – Population Wellbeing Portal

• Health Education England – Dental factsheets

• P3 – Public health awareness campaigns with impact (requires log-in)

• Solent NHS Trust – Oral Health Promotion E-Learning 

Source: Oral Health Foundation – Caring for my teeth

A simple routine can help prevent most dental problems:

• brushing teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste;

• cleaning between the teeth with ‘interdental’ brushes or floss at least once a day;

• good eating habits – having sugary foods and drinks less often; and

• regular dental check-ups.

Although most people brush regularly, many don’t clean between their teeth and some people don’t have regular dental check-ups. A few small changes in someone’s daily routine can make a big difference in the long term. A dental team can remove any build-up on teeth and treat any gum disease that has already appeared. But daily dental care is up to an individual, and the main tools are the toothbrush, toothpaste and interdental cleaning (cleaning between your teeth).

• Consider linking oral health campaign to Public Health England’s sugar awareness campaign, as the two topics are linked

• Speak to local dental practices to enquire if they are also running a health promotion event, or if there are any props/materials you can borrow to display in the pharmacy

• e-Learning for Healthcare – All Our Health programme

• Facebook – Making Every Contact Count (MECC) Community

• Health Education England – Making Every Contact Count

• The NHS Website – Dental health and Which dental treatments are available on the NHS?