Oral health in London’s homeless population

The Healthy Mouths Health Audit project, funded by the independent charitable foundation Trust for London, engaged over 260 people currently experiencing homelessness in London through focus groups and one-to-one survey based interviews. Participants were in a range of accommodation situations ranging from street homeless, temporary accommodation and in other insecure accommodation like staying with friends and family.

The poor oral health that many are facing is not only causing massive discomfort but is having wider implications for homeless people’s wellbeing and lives.

A large proportion of homeless people are facing considerable pain on a daily basis, with three in 10 currently experiencing dental pain which limits their ability to live fulfilled lives and maintain social networks.

Twenty-one per cent had been “completely unable to function” due to dental issues in the last year, compared to one per cent in the general population. It may be no wonder that some homeless people are turning to substance misuse to manage pain: 27 per cent of participants have used alcohol to help deal with dental pain and 28 per cent have used drugs.