I just wanted to say that the article Why mouth care matters in end of life care by Sarah Haslam (published in the March issue of BDJ Team and highlighted on the BDJ Team Facebook page in May: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41407-020-0255-7) really hit home with me as I too had to help my dad, in his final weeks, with his oral care. It was no reflection of poor care, as all the nurses were doing an amazing job providing care and support, more a lack of frequency and knowledge of how to do a seemingly simple job but on another person, which made it a difficult job.

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I know that elderly, care home and palliative patients will be foremost in our minds under present conditions. Maintaining dental hygiene really does give some much craved dignity in the final weeks.

Thank you for highlighting this area of end of life care.

Judith Doherty, Dentist and Co-Owner of Inverurie & Kintore Dental Practice, Aberdeenshire