When I was a dental student in the 1980s, we were taught that the very first step in any dental examination was to identify and show the disease to the patient — and not proceed until the disease process was under control. Over forty years later, I still believe it’s the best approach.
​You may benefit from helping show residents that they may need help. The following is on Linkedin, but the videos you need are on this site.

As digital X-rays and intra-oral cameras became common, I moved away from the original “hands-on” method — it was cleaner and easy to show patients their oral health directly on a screen. But when I recently revisited the question of “What is the best way?”, I found the modern summaries surprisingly disappointing. The simple, effective techniques we once relied on weren’t even mentioned.
For the general public, self-monitoring should be the foundation of good oral health. One low-tech tool still outperforms many high-tech ones:
👉 Plaque disclosing tablets — costing around 10p — provide more insight than the latest Bluetooth toothbrush.
They reveal where brushing misses, and they empower people to take control of their oral health.
It’s a simple, visual method that could easily be incorporated into teledentistry for home use — the true “first step” in any examination.
I’ve shared a few short videos on how to use disclosing tablets on my Teeth4Life YouTube channel and via assistants on the DentalHealthService.net website.
For adults, the SMIFF test offers an even better self-assessment method — one I proposed over five years ago.
Here’s the link and explanation:
🎥 The SMIFF Test – Checking Oral Health


👉to improve access https://chng.it/dNtrdbk5Nb


FROM AI
“At-Home Self-Exams
Performing regular self-exams is a proactive way to detect changes in oral health. Individuals should check for signs of redness, gum inflammation, unusual lumps, or sores during these self-assessments. Noticing such red flags can prompt timely consultation with a dentist to address potential concerns before they escalate.[4]Reference [4]”

There is a way to treat disease in the mouth without always resorting to surgery or relying on complex dental equipment, materials, and procedures.
With simple, evidence-based approaches, we can provide palliative and preventive oral care that makes a real difference — especially for people who struggle to access traditional dental treatment. We already have the evidence and international experience to make this work.
All that’s needed now is the will to empower the entire dental team to act.
Let’s make oral care more accessible for everyone —to support better access to care.

This one minute video explains how SDF works

This longer video shows how to apply it to the most vulnerable.

The current evidence for Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) in treating tooth decay is very promising. Studies show it’s highly effective at halting caries progression — especially in patients who may struggle with traditional treatments.
Interestingly, there also seems to be a strong link between SDF use, improved gum health, and a reduced risk of pneumonia, particularly in vulnerable groups such as care home residents. Unfortunately, research in this area remains limited — perhaps because SDF is too inexpensive to attract major pharmaceutical funding.
Still, the potential public health benefits are enormous, and I’ll continue doing my bit to raise awareness and promote more research into this simple but powerful preventive treatment. 

Today is election day, and predictions indicate that the government may change. Regardless of who takes charge, it is crucial that our NHS is protected. 
When the NHS was established, the cabinet included about seven former coal miners who passionately lobbied for their constituents, similar to how global food companies lobby to keep health-altering addictives like sugar in our food. Notably, Nye Bevan resigned in 1951 when dental charges were introduced, signaling his discontent with the direction of healthcare.
The healthcare system introduced in 1948 needs to evolve. We need Health Advocates to guide us towards improved health. Specifically, we need more dental nurses focusing on delivering preventive care that the public genuinely needs, rather than more dentists providing treatment that only those who can afford it seek.

We have an exciting opportunity to enhance your scope of practice through flexible commissioning, as promoted by Health Education England (HEE). There are currently seven undersubscribed courses available across the UK, offering further training for our 70,000 dental nurses.
You can explore these courses here in Apprenticeship Training Courses.


https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/422/providers


These courses not only provide professional benefits but also contribute to the public's health. For more detailed information, you can view the HEE NHS promotion presentation on Level 4 apprenticeships here: NHS ICB Integrated Health Board Presentation


https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g3joq9aqtbdcs6bvje708/NHS-ICB-Integrated-Health-board.pdf?rlkey=dbi3hgdmxe7nabzg57o7vytcx&st=9ek1270y&dl=0


There are potential funding and places available for online learning in August at Cavity Dental Training Limited (cavity training.co.uk) 01184023790


For details in the South west contact [email protected]




I am developing a portal focused on teledentistry, 3D printing, and the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) in schools and care homes to improve our nation's dental health and potentially increase your income. If you're interested, please contact me. I will be hosting a webinar with detailed information on how to implement these changes for our collective well-being through our website, dentalhealthservice.co.uk which I’ll release in August.


While waiting for courses in the UK, you might want to take advantage of the approved free CE (CPD) courses from the US, where SDF has been used for children since 2016. Check out the courses here:
https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/ce-courses/ce678


For further information and to get involved, please contact me via http://care4teeth.org, which includes all my contact details. Together, we can improve our NHS, even if we are not formally employed by it.


Our nation's health is too important to leave solely to politicians. By collaborating as a unified dental profession, we can act as the Health Advocates our NHS needs. We can demonstrate that a grassroots approach to health prevention is far more effective than the top-down corporate model that rewards the treatment of avoidable diseases.


It’s time for a change, let’s try something different and help deliver an integrated health and social service.
​

This is the initial draft for a newsletter promoting a Dental Health Service.

In Bristol, as in many large Towns and Cities larger department stores are moving to newer shopping Malls, or simply closing down. Marks and Spencer in Broadmead closed down, and a charity organisation SPARKS Bristol took it over. 
​sparksbristol.co.uk/about/
​I made the following posters and asked about setting up a dental preventive advice unit there, but never heard back. Here are the posters. You may find them of use.

​

Collaboration between carers in care homes, dental nurses, dentists, and hygienists can significantly enhance health delivery by combining practical experience with academic knowledge. By working together, these professionals can create a holistic approach to care that benefits the overall well-being of individuals in care homes.

​When you clean your teeth, do you check your mouth? Most dental adverts show elective cosmetic procedures. However, none of these will help your longevity, but may well help with your emotional wellbeing.
With regard to longevity. You need to check yourself for Oral Cancer. It only takes a minute once a month and may save your life. It's the sixth most common cancer, is mainly preventable, the cure is disfiguring and has very poor outcomes, especially if diagnosed late.

​The videos in the care4teeth.org website are also on the FREE teeth4life App. Download it now and start enjoying better health.

Longer videos on the care4teeth websiteare within the App.  Advice on cancer prevention, and a clinical example of an examination to examine yourself. The advantage of the App is that generally, most people take their phones into the bathroom.

The section in the App, also has advice for carers. If you have someone you look after, this may be an initial resource.