Poor Oral Health Common Among Older People in Long-term Care Homes

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at the University of Leeds highlights the significance of addressing oral health issues among older individuals residing in long-term care environments. The study emphasizes the need for effective interventions and strategies to improve oral health outcomes. Funded by NIHR HSDR Oral and Dental Health, the research aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize systematic reviews of interventions or strategies provided by care home staff to support residents with their oral health.

Key Takeaways:

  • Poor oral health is prevalent among older individuals living in long-term care environments, with various strategies proposed to enhance and sustain oral health within this setting.
  • The implementation of these strategies and interventions has been inconsistent, with limited positive impacts on long-term oral health outcomes.
  • A systematic review of 14 studies found that most interventions focused on training care staff to improve oral health knowledge and skills, while nearly half involved oral health care interventions, such as regular mouth cleaning and structured regimens tailored to residents' needs.
  • Barriers to delivering oral health care were reported, including time constraints, insufficient training, staff turnover, and resistance from residents.
  • Suggestions to overcome these barriers include hands-on training, tailored care plans, managerial support, and collaboration between care staff, family, and dental professionals.
  • Evidence suggests that interventions are available to improve oral health and care for older people living in care homes, particularly around training of staff, but high-quality research is needed to determine which interventions are most effective.

Statistics:

  • 14 systematic reviews were included in the analysis.
  • Nearly half (46%) of the included studies involved oral health care interventions, such as regular mouth cleaning and structured regimens tailored to residents' needs.
  • Time constraints, insufficient training, staff turnover, and resistance from residents were reported as barriers to delivering oral health care in 62% of the included studies.
  • Hands-on training, tailored care plans, managerial support, and collaboration between care staff, family, and dental professionals were suggested as ways to overcome barriers to delivering oral health care.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers at University of Leeds Have Published New Study Findings on Oral Health (Oral health interventions and strategies delivered by care workers to older people living in care homes: an overview of systematic reviews). Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 6287.
  • (BMC Oral Health - http://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com)
  • Doyle, J. et al. (2025). Oral health interventions and strategies delivered by care workers to older people living in care homes: an overview of systematic reviews. BMC Oral Health, 25(1), 1-10. (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06943-x)