Dental Health: Bacterial Diseases and Sepsis
(asked on 8th January 2024) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is taking steps to increase awareness of the potential impact of oral hygiene on levels of prevalence of (a) sepsis and (b) blood borne bacterial infections that can originate from the mouth.
Answered by
Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The control of oral diseases is essential to prevent and manage bacteraemia. Raising awareness of oral health in general can help to reduce the risk of sepsis and infective endocarditis.
The latest version of Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities supports dental teams to improve the oral and general health of their patients. The guidance includes advice on how to prevent and treat oral diseases like dental caries and periodontitis, and is available at the following link:
The UK Health Security Agency coordinates the ‘e-Bug’ health education programme, which aims to promote positive behaviour change amongst children and young people to support infection prevention and control efforts. Oral hygiene features in e-Bug lesson plans aimed at children from ‘early years’ to key stage 2 or equivalent. More information on the programme is available at the following link:
The Government continues to work with the UK Sepsis Trust which plays a pivotal role in influencing public awareness of sepsis through wide ranging campaigns, online resources, and events, including its dental sepsis campaign.