Oral Health

Our key objective is to work with third sector, local authority and NHS partners to improve the oral health of people living and working in Forth Valley.

Our work spans across the life cycle, with various programmes supporting oral health improvement.

Early Years

Childsmile is a national programme which aims to improve the dental health of children in Scotland.

For more information on the main elements of the programme, visit the Childsmile website, or contact our Childsmile Team at FV-UHB.ChildsmilePracticeTeam@nhs.net.

Setting the Table is the new nutritional guidance and food standards for early years childcare providers in Scotland.

The Oral Health Team and NHS Forth Valley’s Nutrition & Dietetic Health Improvement Team have been supporting Early Years childcare providers to implement the guidance within their settings through delivery of interactive training and workshops.

Communities

Smile4Life is the national programme which aims to support individuals to access dental treatment and improve their oral health care. The programme supports staff and volunteers to provide tailored interventions meeting the needs of the people they work with. The team support many organisations, in particular those supporting individuals experiencing; homelessness, mental health issues, deprivation, substance misuse and inequality.

Smile4Life also supports Community Pharmacies to provide oral health messages to individuals receiving Opiate Replacement Therapy.

For more information on the Smile4Life Programme, email:  FV-UHB.smile4life@nhs.net

Whole Prison Approach

Health Promotion Service works in partnership with the local Scottish Prison Service to develop a whole prison approach to health and wellbeing in the prisons within Forth Valley.

The oral health team leads on the implementation of Mouth Matters – the national oral health improvement programme for prisoners. This includes delivering staff training and supporting peer mentors to deliver basic oral health information, as well as working with colleagues to address oral health risk factors including smoking and diet.

For more information, visit Scottish Oral Health Improvement Prison Programme webpage.

Other Programmes & Campaigns

The Oral Health team also support other programmes, including, workplace health, education and other community projects. The team support Oral Health Campaigns, including National Smile Month (May/June) and Mouth Cancer Action Month (November).

Key Facts

For key facts on how to maintain good oral health, have a look at our Make Your Smile Count leaflet.

Training, Support & Local Resources

• Smile4Life training and resources for organisations and services supporting individuals in the community
• Mouth Matters training and resources for organisations and staff supporting prisoners
• Setting the Table training for Early Years providers on the Nutritional Guidance for Early Years
• Various resources available in HIRS
• Other training opportunities

Get In Touch

You can get in touch with the tam by completing our contact form.

Do you need to see a dentist?

For help and advice on how to register with a dental practice, to access emergency treatment or general queries, visit the dental services webpage.