Hatherleigh Nursing Home team joins oral health discussion led by local dental professional

A recent session at Hatherleigh Nursing Home, based in Okehampton, Devon, brought team members together with a local professional, as Nicole from the Oral Health Team at Torrington Dental Practice led an informal talk focused on the importance of oral care.

Eight team members from across the home were invited to take part, including Care Assistants, Care Practitioners, House Leads and Registered Nurses. The mix of roles meant the skills and knowledge could be shared back across the households within the home. Nicole, who has previously worked in social care shaped the session around everyday practice. Dentures and toothbrushes were shared around as she talked through practical approaches, alongside the importance of preventative care and recognising early signs of discomfort.

The discussion focused on the small things that affect someone’s comfort every day and taking time to really understand them, such as changes in eating, sensitivity or how someone responds during support. By exploring these moments together, the session offered time to revisit everyday approaches and build confidence in recognising and responding to changes early.

Nicole from Torrington Dental Practice shared: “It was a pleasure to visit and share practical oral health advice with the team. Oral health is so closely linked to overall wellbeing, and with the right support, small daily habits can make a big difference to residents comfort and quality of life.”

This visit also reflected the value of multi-disciplinary working within the nursing home, bringing together the knowledge of a dental professional with the day-to-day understanding of team members to further strengthen skills around oral health, as well as building relationships within the North Devon care community.

Home Manager Ashley Ryder said: “We are incredibly thankful to Nicole for sharing her expertise and supporting our ongoing learning and development. Partnerships like these are so valuable in helping us continue to strengthen the care and support we provide every day.”

If you would like to learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, please visit https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/lifes-journey-continued-2/