Expert Standard: Promoting Oral Health in Nursing Care

The primary goal is to promote the oral health of individuals in need of care through targeted, continuous, and individualized measures. This includes preventive actions, early detection, and specific treatment of oral health issues. The standard is directed at all nursing staff working in residential facilities or home care settings, as well as dentists and family members.

Key objectives include:

•  Enhancing oral health through regular care
• Reducing the risk of dental and other health problems
• Strengthening collaboration between nursing staff and dentists
• Improving the quality of life for individuals in need of care through better oral hygiene

Nursing staff play a central role in promoting oral health. The expert standard requires them to regularly assess the oral health status of individuals in their care, document any findings, and collaborate with dental professionals to implement appropriate measures.

Key responsibilities include:

• Regular Oral Cavity Inspection: Examine the mouth for signs of gum inflammation, pressure sores, or infections.
• Documentation: Record all observations to monitor changes in oral health status.
• Developing Individual Care Plans: Create personalized oral care plans based on observations, tailored to the patient’s needs.
• Performing Oral Care: Ensure that necessary oral care measures are carried out regularly and correctly.
• Communication with Dentists: Inform dentists promptly when issues arise to facilitate timely treatment.

Training and Qualification:

• Identifying Oral Health Problems: Recognizing signs of caries, periodontitis, pressure sores, or gum inflammation.
• Denture Care: Proper cleaning and maintenance of dentures to prevent pressure sores or infections.
• Preventive Measures: Guidance on preventive actions such as using mouth rinses, fluoride toothpaste, and special cleaning agents.
• Guidance and Motivation of Individuals in Care: Assisting individuals to perform oral hygiene as independently as possible and motivating them for regular care.

Individuals requiring care often have special needs regarding oral hygiene. The expert standard addresses these specific requirements and provides guidelines on how to ensure oral care even with limited mobility or cognitive impairments.

Special challenges in care include:

• Cognitive Impairments: For patients with dementia or cognitive limitations, performing oral hygiene can be challenging. The expert standard offers assistance on how nursing staff can address these challenges.
• Physical Limitations: Patients with restricted mobility need support with daily oral hygiene, such as handing them the toothbrush or using aids.
• Dentures: Nursing staff must be knowledgeable about the proper handling and care of dentures, as they are a common source of infections and inflammations.

By adhering to this expert standard, nursing staff can significantly contribute to improving the oral health and overall well-being of individuals in their care.

Close collaboration between nursing staff and dentists is a central aspect of the expert standard. Nursing staff act as a bridge by identifying oral health issues early and involving dentists when necessary.

Key aspects of collaboration:

• Regular Dental Examinations: Dentists should regularly examine care-dependent individuals to ensure that no untreated problems are present.
• Communication: Nursing staff and dentists must work closely together to develop the best measures for patients. This also includes clear documentation of the care and treatments performed.
• Training and Consultation: Dentists can train nursing staff in the correct use of care products and tools, as well as advise them on specific challenges.

The expert standard provides clear recommendations on actions that must be taken to sustainably promote oral health:

• Daily Cleaning of Teeth and Oral Cavity: Nursing staff must ensure that the teeth or dentures of care-dependent individuals are cleaned at least twice daily.
• Use of Appropriate Care Products: Depending on the condition of the oral cavity, special products such as antibacterial mouthwashes, fluoride toothpaste, or denture cleaners should be used.
• Nutritional Counseling: A tooth-friendly diet significantly contributes to oral health. Nursing staff should educate patients about the effects of certain foods on dental health and suggest tooth-friendly alternatives.

At EMPIDENT, we support nursing staff with a specialized training program for the implementation of the expert standard. For more information about our training offerings, click here and learn how to sustainably promote the oral health of your patients.