CARE home staff in Worcestershire are being given advice on how to help residents care for their teeth.

As the amount of older people in the county continues to increase, and many more retaining their own teeth than in the past, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s community dental service has been giving specialist training on how ensure care home residents’ oral health is maintained.

The training was offered as part of the national Caring for Smiles programme, which is working to improve oral health amount older people.

Among areas focused on by the training were ensuring residents with dementia – who may often resist offers of help or support – are properly cared for.

The trust’s dental health coordinator Alison Willis said: “The number of vulnerable older people in care homes is rising and inadequate oral care can have a detrimental impact on their nutrition and hydration levels, as well as their general health.

“In addition, many dependent older people cannot perform their own oral care satisfactorily and rely on others for help to maintain their health and welfare.

“In this context, nursing and residential care homes staff have an essential role in the delivery of oral care in older people.”

Denture wearers are advised to take special care to prevent infections and other problems, including taking them out at night, rinsing them after every meal and cleaning them every night using either soap and water or special cream.