Oral health

Good oral hygiene is about more than just a nice smile. It can help prevent painful tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, tooth loss and oral cancer.

Toothbrush and toothpaste in the bathroom close up.

Poor oral health can make eating, drinking and communicating difficult.  It can also affect your self-esteem and confidence.

It is important to visit your dentist regularly, this is usually every 6-months unless advised otherwise.  Even without natural teeth, or if you wear dentures it is still important to attend check-ups as the dentist will check your mouth and gums and the fit of your dentures.  

Children should visit the dentist before their first birthday or as soon as their first milk teeth appear. This will help them get used to the dental environment and help with visits as they get older.  

  • Brush your teeth for about two minutes, twice a day, using a fluoride toothpaste
  • Spit don’t rinse after brushing. Avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes. This gives the fluoride time to stay on your teeth and helps keep them strong and protected
  • If you have dentures, you can give them a quick brush with toothpaste before soaking them in a denture cleaning solution

If you need emergency or urgent dental treatment contact your own dentist.  You can also call NHS 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.

If you are not registered with a dentist or your own dentist is closed. You can also call the Cheshire and Merseyside dental helpline on 0161 476 965, between 9.00 am to 9.30pm everyday.

You can search for a dentist here.  

Healthwatch Knowsley can also help you find a dentist. Telephone 0151 449 3954 or visit their website  

 

The Knowsley Oral Health Improvement Service has two targeted programmes which focus on people who are more likely to experience poor oral health. These are older adults living in care homes and young children.  

Mouth Care Matters programme delivers training and education to staff to empower them with the knowledge and skills to help residents with mouth care in a safe and compassionate way.  

The Supervised Toothbrushing programme is delivered across Early Years settings to equip staff with the skills, knowledge and resources to encourage effective toothbrushing techniques and embed good habits from an early age.  

For more information call City Health Care Partnership on 0151 426 7462 or email  chcp.oralhealthknowsley@nhs.net

Further support and health information you can trust

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