Oral Health and Dysphagia

Industry-backed eLearning
Oral health & dysphagia online course
Oral Health and Dysphagia
Suitable for Care Assistant, Senior Care Assistant
40-60 minutes
Free (ex. VAT)
Certificate £2.99 (ex. VAT)
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Learning outcomes
  • Describe the anatomy of the mouth, teeth and oesophagus
  • Explain the importance of oral hygiene to physical and psychosocial health
  • List the causes of poor oral health
  • Describe how to carry out an oral health assessment
  • Discuss the key principals of effective mouth care
  • Appreciate the importance of mouth care in patients receiving palliative care
  • Recognise when to escalate an issue with mouth care and how to refer to a dentist
  • Define the term 'dysphagia'
  • Recall examples of clinical conditions which may lead to dysphagia
  • List the signs and symptoms of dysphagia
  • Describe how to assess someone's swallowing
  • Explain the core principals of dysphagia-associated first aid
  • Know what the international dysphagia diet standardisation initiative (IDDSI) is, and how it is used in practice
  • Explain how to support someone with dysphagia to eat independently
  • About this course

    This in-depth module covers with standard principles and best practice guidelines in relation to oral health, mouth care and the support of people with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).

    This course has been developed from the NICE Guidelines for oral care in care homes and as a result of the CQC report ‘Smiling Matters’ June 2019.

    It covers the anatomy of the mouth, teeth and oesophagus, the causes of poor oral health, they key principles of effective mouth care. It then explains what dysphagia is, how it is assessed and managed, including the use of IDSSI in practice, while still promoting a person’s independence and choice at all times. The course is CPD accredited and expected to take learners around 40 to 50 minutes to complete.

    Course curriculum
    Chapter 1 : Anatomy of the Mouth and Teeth
    Chapter 2 : The Mouth
    Chapter 3 : Teeth
    Chapter 4 : Anatomy of the Oesophagus
    Chapter 5 : What is Oral Hygiene?
    Chapter 6 : Causes of Poor Oral Health
    Chapter 7 : Why is Oral Hygiene so Important?
    Chapter 8 : Assessing Oral Health Needs
    Chapter 9 : Principles of Effective Mouth Care
    Chapter 10 : Mouth Care Within Palliative Care
    Chapter 11 : Managing Common Oral Issues
    Chapter 12 : Referring for Additional Support
    Chapter 13 : What is Dysphagia?
    Chapter 14 : Signs of Dysphagia
    Chapter 15 : What are the Causes of Dysphagia?
    Chapter 16 : Aspiration and Choking
    Chapter 17 : A Person is Choking - Six Steps to Undertake
    Chapter 18 : Assessing Someone's Swallow
    Chapter 19 : The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)
    Chapter 20 : Supporting people with dysphagia
    Chapter 21 : Steps to Support Nutrition and Fluid
    Chapter 22 : Summary
    Chapter 23 : A Chance to Reflect
    Chapter 24 : References
    Get certified
    • Showcase your skills with a course certificate, for use in your professional records, portfolio or in job interviews
    • Individual course certificate £2.99 (ex. VAT)
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    FAQ
    What is CPD?

    Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is the way that professionals continue to learn and develop throughout their career and ensure they keep their skills and knowledge up to date to be able to practise safely.

    If you work in a role that requires registration with a regulatory body such as nursing, then you are required to keep your skills and knowledge up to date through CPD.

    For example, all nurses on the NMC register must complete 35 hours of CPD in a three year period. E-learning can count towards some of the required CPD hours, so the great news is Academy e-learning modules can be used to evidence ongoing CPD hours!

    Each module on Academy gives an indication of the time required in “active learning” to complete it. Once the module is completed and the assessment passed, a certificate is then issued which can be downloaded.

    The terms CPD hours/scores/points are used interchangeably, although a module on Academy does not give the number of CPD “points”, the general guide is that usually one hour of learning equates to one CPD “point”.

    Most of Florence Academy modules are independently accredited by the CPD Standards Office and many of them are also aligned to the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF). Each course overview details whether the course is accredited and/or aligned, meaning you can be confident that they meet industry standards.

    To find out more about:

    • CPD Standards Office please visit here

    • CSTF alignment please visit here

    • NMC CPD revalidation please visit here

    Will any care home accept my certificates?

    Any care home/NHS Trust outside of Florence can accept them, depending on their policies. Sometimes organisations have a preference for a certain course or they might ask to see the learning outcomes to be sure what has been covered in the course, we recommend you check with them directly.

    How to pay for Academy certificates

    It's free to learn on Florence Academy – you can go through all modules in a course and complete assessments without paying.

    We charge just £2.99 (ex VAT) to see and download each course pass certificate, and £7.99 (ex VAT) to purchase a video course.

    You can buy your certificate immediately after completing the course (and passing your assessment), or you can purchase it later by clicking the "Get certified" button for the course on your certificates page.

    We accept most card types, including Visa and Mastercard. We don't currently take PayPal.

    *You won't need to pay for certificates for courses completed before 11 January, 2023. If you have finished registration with Florence and are a Florence worker, you can see and download course pass certificates for free.

    What is Florence Academy?

    Academy is an online learning platform designed for those working in social care and looking for professional development. You can log in or create an account here.

    Who creates the learning content on Florence Academy?

    Our Florence Academy specialist Clinical Content Team is made up of experts in health and social care and digital learning - a winning combo. We are skilled and experienced and create accurate and interesting learning experiences on any topic. We are:

    • clinical experts

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    We focus on producing accurate and relevant learning content you can trust.

    Florence Academy content disclaimer

    The information and online educational content provided by Florence Academy is intended for general knowledge and educational purposes only. It is designed to assist you in meeting your continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. Florence Academy cannot be held responsible for the performance or implementation of your duties at work or professional skills.

    The content should not be considered medical, health, wellness, nutritional advice or consultation. It is not a substitute for the services or advice of a qualified health professional who provides evidence-based care within a specific context. The content is generalised and does not take into account an individual's circumstances, physical well-being, mental state, or medical needs, which are important factors in correctly diagnosing and treating any health condition.

    Florence Academy explicitly advises against disregarding medical advice or encouraging others to do so, or delaying seeking medical advice based on this content.

    While Florence Academy strives to ensure that all content is complete and accurate at the time of publication, we do not assume responsibility for any errors, omissions, or defects in the content. Florence Academy does not guarantee the accuracy of information provided by any third party and accepts no liability for any loss or damage that may occur as a result of relying on such information.

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