A DENTAL care campaigner from Westbrook has been recognised for her work and commitment to the industry.

Jo Dickinson, of Coppice Green, was awarded the most outstanding dental team member of the UK 2014 at the recent Dentistry Awards in Leicester.

Following her win, Jo spoke to the Warrington Guardian about the changes she hopes to see in the future to combat dental hygiene problems.

She said: "I feel passionately about certain groups within our community that may be overlooked when it comes to dental care.

"For example, studies have shown that in the older generations, oral health deteriorates rapidly if they enter residential care but the reasons for this are not clear.

"As many residents still have a lot of their teeth, they are susceptible to gum disease and its bearing on general health. It is imperative that we address this issue immediately.

"I want to set up training for care workers so that they are able to appreciate the negative impact gum disease can have on the body and methods of improving oral hygiene in residential care."

The 47-year-old has also been involved with a number of schemes aimed at providing vital training to people within the industry.

She said: "I was one of three hygienists who set up the first national mentoring scheme for newly qualified therapists in the UK.

"This was really needed as there were very few vocational training schemes for hygienists at the time.

"I also set up a training course for dental nurses who wanted to advance their skills in smoking cessation support.

But her work has not stopped there, Jo has also campaigned for dental care professionals to be able to provide effective stop smoking support to patients who want to quit.