Pharmacists’ involvement in promoting good oral health practices is an integral component of FIP’s self-care priority programme. Pharmacists’ roles in oral health include:
- Providing advice on oral hygiene
- Promoting oral health and providing advice on dental products
- Managing common oral health symptoms and particularly in high-risk populations, such as people living with diabetes and other NCDs.
- Identifying red-flag symptoms and referring patient to dentist
- Dispensing and providing advice on the use of prescription and non-prescription medicines for oral health conditions or with oral health effects.
- Conducting medicines use reviews linked to oral health
- Managing common conditions such as xerostomia, oral candidiasis, halitosis, tooth sensitivity, gum inflammation or bleeding, mouth ulcers, or cold sores
- Contributing to optimal antibiotic use in dental practice
- Oral health campaigns/awareness days
In addition, there are clear links between oral health and system health, including several non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and other.
