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Oral health is essential to one’s general well-being, quality of life and health. Promoting oral health in nursing care homes may have cost implications but deterioration prevention in mouths and the teeth of patients would be less costly in the long run than having treatment for oral or systemic diseases that have been caused by poor oral health (Haumschild and Haumschild 2009). There are evidences that prove preventive interventions for oral hygiene are effective. This includes using a small and soft toothbrush, toothpastes that are high fluoride-containing, gels that contain chlorhexidine gluconate, mouthwashes, sprays, gels and rinses for saliva replacement, dental floss, denture fixatives and interdental micro-brushes (Chalmers and Pearson 2005, Clarke 2009). Oral health promotion and disease prevention are included in a nursing home’s responsibilities and not just by dental professionals. Promoting oral health in nursing care homes can be fully achieved by the following: * Nursing and care staff have to be trained and educated with regards to oral health. * There has to be an easy access to a dental healthcare professional may it be for advice or oral care, as required. * The benefits which oral health bring about for a person’s overall health, nutrition, well-being and socializing have to be promoted. * Patients have to be encouraged to maintain a daily oral habit of hygiene. * A provision of constant support and advice on gum and teeth care. * There has to be assistance ready at all times for the maintenance of specific oral hygiene practices like brushing, interdental brushing, mouth rinsing, or flossing as being advised by a dental professional. * Advice and support must be provided for the care of dentures. * Appropriate equipment such as adapted handles, choice of toothpaste and specialist brushes have to be provided. * Illustrations for oral health promotion must be provided to set as reminders, source of information, and oral hygiene prompts that are appropriate to a specific need of a person. * Patients must know the relevance of one’s oral health to nutrition as well as the relevance of nutrition to oral health. Promoting oral health in nursing care homes holthave to be done proactively so that barriers that bring about negative effects will be totally eliminated. There are multiple approaches needed to fully achieve this endeavor ad it includes the implementation of the developed programs for oral health education, assessment and screening of tools, care plans, full documentation and aid for oral hygiene supply. This potential exists by developing multidisciplinary teams composed of specialist nurses that have worked with dental hygienists, providing training for support care delivery. It is also suggested to appoint “Champions” of oral care for the old generation to emulate. A new generation is on its way to older age. There is an estimated three quarters of the”baby boomers” that will enter facilities for a long-term care and majority still has their natural teeth (Haumschild and Haumschild 2009). This trend will be on for a long time so a provision for an effective oral care is essential for nursing practices. This isn't highly technical and massively expensive when it comes to resources and it can already make a very big difference in a patient’s comfort, health, quality of life and well-being.
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