Healthcare professionals urged to discuss dental care with patients

Posted by Yvonne Wallace

Healthcare professionals have been reminded of the importance of discussing dental care with their patients.

According to the British Dental Health Federation, this is vital because it can help to boost the standard of oral health, in information that could be included in dental marketing campaigns.

Chief executive of the body Dr Nigel Carter stated while people will only change their ways if they wish to, the topic of lifestyle needs to be broached on a regular basis.

“Taking the time out to discuss a patient’s smoking habit, alcohol consumption levels or poor diet could save lives, as all of those are associated with the risk of developing mouth cancer,” he said.

Earlier in the month, Dr Carter told parents to ensure they instill good oral health habits in their children while they are young, as these are hard to get rid of when they get older.

He pointed out kids should brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, as this will greatly help dental health.