CDS Essex deliver training at Aspiration Pneumonia Conference

The Community Dental Services CIC (CDS) Essex Oral Health Improvement (OHI) team recently delivered training at an Aspiration Pneumonia Conference aimed at adult social care providers and family carers.

Organised by Essex County Council Provider Quality Innovation Team, the conference looked at how to identify people at risk of aspiration pneumonia and put preventative measures in place.

Poor oral health can contribute to aspiration pneumonia and good oral health can help to reduce the risk. The CDS OHI team held a brushing demonstration; a guide on how to self-check for mouth cancer; and covered brushing methods, tool and aids and shared how to support the oral health of those at risk of the infection.

Toyah Khan, Oral Health Improvement Manager for CDS in Essex said: “Attending events like this are a perfect way for us to highlight the importance of oral health and its impact on many health conditions such as aspiration pneumonia. The feedback we have received from families and care providers has been fantastic, and we know that it is helping them to manage the oral health of the people they support more confidently, as well as educating them about how important it is”.

Jenny Peckham, Provider Quality Innovation Manager (Adults with Disabilities), who organised the event, said: “Having worked for some time with CDS, we are all too aware of the importance of good oral hygiene on our overall health, but particularly the role it plays in preventing aspiration pneumonia. Providers and family carers were all very complimentary regarding the workshops and one of the family carers sent us a long, heartfelt email to say thank you and to tell us how much she had gained from attending”.

CDS oral health teams work closely with care providers to help them understand the importance of good oral health practices and the impact it has on health, wellbeing and quality of life.