The association between dementia and the risk of developing a higher rate of tooth decay and gum disease is recognised and services provided.

People living with dementia have a higher rate of tooth decay and gum disease. Maintaining good oral health is important for overall wellbeing.
Your dentist should work with you to plan in advance how oral health can be maintained, including carer education to prevent decay, fluoride treatments, and regular screenings.

For extra information, evidence and best practice please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Regional offerings

Dementia Wellbeing Plan for Greater Manchester; Dementia United

The Greater Manchester dementia wellbeing plan promotes personalised planning conversations with people living with dementia and carers about their needs and wants. The plan ensures an improved standard of care planning for people living with dementia and also facilitates sharing across the system. It will be available as a standardised plan which can be accessed and shared digitally between practitioners; as well as being available from the website for people affected by dementia to be using when having person centred care plan reviews
Weblink: https://dementia-united.org.uk/dementia-wellbeing-plan/

Evidence

Oral health of people with dementia:
It is well recognised that oral health is likely to decline as Alzheimer's disease progresses. The impact of the disorder, especially in the latter stages, leads to poor oral hygiene with an increase in periodontal disease, higher levels of decay and a greater incidence of other dental problems. These include difficulty wearing dentures, the inability to comply with oral care and the inability to carry out oral hygiene procedures. Poor oral care and an increase in oral disease can also lead to changes in eating habits.

Greater Manchester Mouth Care Toolkit for Care Homes and Domiciliary Care providers:
Maintaining good oral health is essential for overall well-being. Good mouth care, advanced planning and fluorides can prevent most of the mouth deterioration and mouth problems.

Oral hygiene and oral health in older people with dementia: a comprehensive review with focus on oral soft tissues:
The oral health and hygiene of older people with dementia is not sufficient and could be improved with oral care education of formal and informal caregivers and regular professional dental care to people with dementia.

Best Practice Resources

Dementia UK have developed guidelines and advice for maintaining good mouth care for people with dementia.
The Alzheimer's Society information on dental problems in dementia and treatment methods.

Dementia Friendly Dentistry Leaflet
Dementia Friendly Dentistry Card

The Dental Dementia Friendly Guide was designed to enable dental teams to understand the needs of people living with dementia and their families when visiting the dental surgery.

A short video explaining the importance of dementia friendly dentistry and how tooth decay can be effectively managed.