The connection between oral health and general health is well understood within the dental profession, yet many patients are still unaware of this link and, as a result, may not fully appreciate the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. This series will explore key systemic conditions associated with poor oral health and offer insights on how we can better support patients in improving their oral care. 

Pregnancy is a time full of significant physical and emotional changes, and some of these changes can negatively impact oral health. Whilst this may not be a top priority to our patients at the time, it is important that we use every interaction throughout and after pregnancy to inform them of these changes and provide education on how to avoid long-term issues. This has become especially important to me following my own experience with pregnancy and recently welcoming my daughter. Even dental professionals are not immune from experiencing problems after such a huge life event!

Hi! My name is Julie. I’d like to share my experience from my Dentaid Uganda trip. I got involved in volunteering for Dentaid because I wanted to remind myself why I went into dental nursing in the first place. Over time, I felt like the focus of my work had shifted too much toward paperwork and was less about the patients. When Sarah from Dentaid told me about their overseas trips, I knew it was something I had to do. I had already been volunteering with Dentaid in the UK, so I jumped at the opportunity to take my skills abroad. After sorting out the paperwork and getting some references together, I was ready to go on my first international trip. The idea of stepping out of my comfort zone, especially after the challenges of the COVID pandemic, gave me a renewed sense of purpose.

Thinking back to my childhood visits to the dentist, we used a local NHS practice that had one dentist, a receptionist, and a dental nurse (whom I can still see in my mind's eye). This dental nurse remained a constant over the years, even when the original dentist retired and the practice was taken over. The softly-spoken dental nurse, who remained mostly silent throughout our family visits but always had a smile and a sticker as we left the surgery, was always there.

I was always known for being the ‘chatty’ one at school – the exception being when it came to contributing in class, where I’d make myself as small as possible due to the fear of getting the answer wrong and turning as red as a tomato. I think that’s why I enjoyed working in hospitality. The idle chit-chat when serving customers and clearing away the endless stack of plates suited my friendly, helpful nature.