A new guide has been launched which aims to help significantly improve the oral health of the prison population in Scotland.

The 'Mouth Matters' guide for trainers aims to achieve better oral care for offenders and help address their oral health and psychosocial needs. It has risen out of research carried out in three Scottish prisons in 2011 by the University of Dundee's Dental Health Services Research Unit (DHSRU), NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Prison Service.

Professor Ruth Freeman, Co-Director of the DHSRU, said: 'Our survey showed that the oral health of Scottish prisoners is poorer than that of the general population. In addition, prisoners had an increased prevalence of physical and mental ill-health – with 11% diagnosed with mixed anxiety-depressive states compared with 2.6% of the general population'.

Derek Richards, Director of the Centre for Evidence Based Dentistry within the DHSRU, said: 'Good oral health helps our self-esteem, which is important for people trying to re-establish a place within the community'.

It is hoped that the 'Mouth Matters' guidance will enable staff to be more confident in dealing with oral health matters, and help offenders to take the necessary steps towards better oral health.