NICE oral health guidelines get BDHF backing

NICE has introduced new guidelines regarding the promotion of oral health, which have been welcomed by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF).

NICE has laid out guidance on how dental practices should help patients make their own informed decisions surrounding dental care. This includes providing advice on how diet, smoking and alcohol can affect their oral health, as well as the use of fluoride.

Chief executive of the BDHF Dr Nigel Carter OBE said the guidelines should help address the "socio-economic variances and inequalities which still exist in oral health".

"Although the landscape of oral health in the UK has improved significantly over recent years, there remain significant regional disparities," he explained.

Dr Ben Atkins sat on the NICE committee that drew up the guidelines and he explained they have been put together with the patient in mind.

Giving dental practice staff the ability to support patients so they are able to "look after their oral health at all times" should help to improve dental standards in the UK, Dr Atkins – also a trustee of the BDHF – added.