€1m to improve oral hygiene among vulnerable groups
Elderly people, people with disabilities and those in poverty often have trouble maintaining oral hygiene, and the welfare minister wants to address the problem
Preventive action
A study by socialist mutuality Bond Moyson shows that three-quarters of elderly people in care homes haven’t been to a dentist in two years. About 22% received a form of oral care in this period. Elderly people still living at home also often have difficulty maintaining their oral health.
“Good oral health is necessary to safeguard physical, psychological and social welfare,” said minister Jo Vandeurzen in a statement. “Neglecting oral hygiene is often linked to undernourishment, weight loss, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other health problems.”
He is allocating a budget of €1 million for the coming four years, which organisations can use to set up initiatives related to preventive action. He is working with the Flemish Dentists’ Union, the universities of Leuven and Ghent and the Flemish Professional Association of Dentists.
The dentist associations and universities will examine the specific needs of vulnerable groups to see what measures can be taken. There are also plans for a service in which dentists will visit care homes.
Photo: Ingimage
