Dental public health in action: Oral health messaging and the smoking cessation team

Abstract

Smoking cessation has been a public health focus for many years due to the impact of tobacco-use on the health system, society and wider economy. Evidence based information on supporting patients with smoking cessation is already available to dental teams but there appears to be limited information on the effects of tobacco on oral health for smoking cessation teams. Smoking affects the mouth, including increasing the risk of oral cancer, with prevention and early detection of oral diseases, a key priority in supporting health. There are opportunities for smoking cessation advisers to pass on oral health messages to their clients to help them maintain a good level of oral hygiene and encourage them to visit the dentist for regular checks. We developed and delivered a training session for smoking cessation advisors in a Southeast local authority. The session presented the effects of tobacco-use on the mouth, oral health promotion messaging for teams to incorporate into their sessions with clients, the importance of oral hygiene and available resources for soft tissue self-checks. The role of the dental team in oral health care was described and the importance of regular dental visits highlighted. This paper reflects the development, delivery and learning from this training initiative, particularly around future opportunities and challenges. Public Health Competencies being illustrated: oral health promotion, strategic leadership and collaborative working for health and oral health improvement.