1. Oral Health Assessment on Admission

Every resident should receive an oral health assessment when they join your care home, identifying their needs for daily care, dentures, professional dental services, and routine monitoring​.

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2. Oral Health in Care Plans

Your policies and care plans must include residents’ oral health requirements — from twice-daily cleaning to denture care and access to dental services — recorded and regularly reviewed like all other personal care needs.

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3. Daily Mouth Care support 

CQC expects evidence that residents are supported with daily mouth care (teeth, gums, dentures) in a way that maintains dignity, comfort, and safety. This should be part of your documented routine and monitored for quality.

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4. Staff Training in Oral Care

Staff delivering personal care must receive appropriate, practical training in oral health. Training should include:

• Safe brushing and denture care

• Helping residents who resist mouth care

• Support for residents with dementia or dysphagia

• Recognition and documentation of oral health concerns

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CQC now includes training questions during inspections to check that staff are competent and confident in delivering mouth care.

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Why CQC Checks Oral Health

CQC’s Smiling Matters review highlights that oral health is integral to overall well-being, dignity, nutrition, comfort, and quality of life. Inspectors now routinely evaluate whether:

• Staff receive specific oral health training

• Oral care is part of the care planning process

• Residents’ oral health is regularly assessed and delivered

Homes that ignore these areas risk poor inspection outcomes and potentially unmet needs in residents. 

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Evidence & Inspection Focus

CQC gathers evidence from:

• Residents’ experiences and feedback

• Staff and leadership feedback

• Partners and stakeholders

• Observation of care delivery

• Processes and documentation

• Outcomes for residents

This holistic approach means your written policies, training records, care plans, and staff practice all influence inspection ratings.

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Practical Steps for Care Managers

Use this simple checklist to align with CQC expectations:

✔ Ensure all new residents have an oral health assessment on admission
✔ Document oral health needs clearly in personalised care plans
✔ Provide regular oral health training for all care staff
✔ Nominate an Oral Health Champion to lead best practice
✔ Collect feedback from residents, families, and staff about mouth care quality
✔ Review oral health care regularly and update records as needs change