Reading List

These official sources back the course content and are useful for workplace follow-up, supervision, refresher learning and policy review. The course uses NICE oral-health guidance and quality standards as the primary clinical reference, with separate links for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so local programmes and dental access arrangements remain clear.

Core clinical guidance and England social care context

• NICE NG48: Oral health for adults in care homes
  Core guidance on oral health assessment, mouth care plans, daily mouth care, staff knowledge and access to dental services.
• NICE NG48 recommendations
  Exact recommendations on admission assessment, denture information, daily mouth care, responding to refusal and local dental access arrangements.
• NICE QS151: Oral health in care homes
  Quality standard covering oral health assessment on admission, recording mouth care needs in care plans and supporting daily mouth care.
• NICE QS151 quality statement 1
  Guidance on admission assessment, signs of dental ill health and asking about dentist details and denture care.
• NICE QS151 quality statement 2
  Guidance on recording mouth care needs in the personal care plan and keeping the plan updated.
• NICE QS151 quality statement 3
  Expectations that residents are supported to clean their teeth twice a day and to carry out daily denture care.
• CQC: Smiling matters - oral health in care homes progress report summary
  Regulatory findings on assessments, care-plan quality, staff training, oral health champions and access to dental care.
• Skills for Care: Oral health
  Adult social care training context and the reminder that poor oral health can affect eating, drinking, medicines and aspiration risk.

Wales signposting

• GOV.WALES: Improving oral health for older people living in care homes
  Welsh care-home guidance on oral risk assessment, care planning, staff training, local dental links and specific mouth care product rules in Wales.

Scotland signposting

• NHS Education for Scotland: Caring for Smiles
  Scotland's national oral health promotion, training and support programme for dependent older people, especially those in care homes.

Northern Ireland signposting

• HSC Public Health Agency: Mouth care awareness video for people who care for adults with dysphagia
  Northern Ireland signposting on why mouth care is especially important for adults with swallowing difficulties.

For daily practice, use the resident's current mouth care plan and your home's local dental access route first; consult these official sources for wider guidance.