Dental services for people experiencing homelessness

Patient Information Leaflet - Oral health information and how to get dental care

What mouth problems should I look out for?

• Toothache
• Bleeding gums
• Loose teeth
• Swelling or infection
• Problems with dentures
• An ulcer on your tongue, lip or inside your mouth that does not heal.

What should I know about mouth cancer?

• Mouth cancer can develop on the tongue, tonsils, lips or other parts of the mouth.

• Smoking or using tobacco can increase your risk.

• Drinking a lot of alcohol can also increase your risk.

• Using tobacco and drinking alcohol together increases the risk further.

• Get medical or dental advice if you notice:

  • An ulcer that does not go away within 2 to 3 weeks.
  • A white or red patch in your mouth.
  • An unusual lump or swelling in your mouth or throat.

How can smoking and alcohol affect my mouth?

• Smoking can cause bad breath, stained teeth, gum disease, a dry mouth and changes in taste.
• Alcoholic drinks can contain a lot of sugar and acid.
• Acid can wear away enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth.

How can substance use affect my mouth?

• You may want more sugary food.
• Your mouth may become dry, which can increase the risk of dental problems.
• Clenching or grinding your teeth can cause cracked teeth, jaw pain and headaches.
• It may become harder to keep up regular toothbrushing.
• If you have been prescribed methadone and are not sure whether it is sugar-free, ask your health professional about a sugar-free option.

How can I look after my mouth?

• Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush once during the day and again last thing at night.
• After brushing, spit out the toothpaste but do not rinse with water.
• Cut down on sugary food and drinks, including alcohol.
• See a dentist regularly, even if you have only a few teeth or no natural teeth.

How can I get dental care?

• Whittington Health Community Dental Services in Camden and Islington can see people who meet the service criteria.
• Your support worker or key worker may be able to refer you.

Our clinics

• Finsbury Health Centre
  17 Pine Street,
  London,
  EC1R 0LP (near Farringdon Station)

• Crowndale Health Centre
  59 Crowndale Road,
  London,
  NW1 1TN (near Mornington Crescent Station)

Will I have to pay NHS dental charges?

• Please bring evidence of any exemption, such as an HC2 certificate or relevant Universal Credit evidence.

What if I need urgent dental care?

• If you are already a patient of Whittington Health Dental Services and have an urgent dental problem, call 020 3316 8353.
• If you do not have a dentist, call NHS 111 or use NHS 111 online for advice about where you can be seen.

Get more information

• Community Dental Services referral information: https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/default.asp?c=10989
• NHS 111 online: https://111.nhs.uk/

Contact our service

• Call Community Dental Services on 020 3316 8353.