Mouth Care Matters
Mouth Care Matters (MCM) is a one-day specialty training in the area of oral care.
Practical Hands-On Skills and Classroom Experience
Mouth Care Matters was originally designed for home care, hospice, and nurse aides; personal assistants; patient care technicians; and direct support professionals, but the program is also suitable for other health and long-term service and support (LTSS) staff including licensed nurses.
Family caregivers may also benefit from the training. Taught by dental hygienists who are certified instructors, the program offers practical hands-on skills and/or demonstrations on how to provide the best oral care possible for Iowans of all ages and abilities.
2026 Mouth Care Matters Class Was A Big Hit With Graduates!
Direct care workers and Certified Nursing Assistant students from Indian Hills Community College participated in an all-day Mouth Care Matters program at Des Moines Area Community College, Southridge Center.
The pictures are worth a thousand words and tell the story of having fun while learning, meeting new friends, reuniting with old friends, and practicing hands-on learning skills along with instruction by Johanna Land, MSHE, BS, RDH, CDA, Dental Programs & Clinic Coordinator, Des Moines Area Community College. Congratulations to all!
100% rated the program excellent or very good.
What graduates said:
"This was the best and most thorough class ever taken.”
“I learned the importance of oral care for which I will carry on with my employer.”
“Fantastic training! It was fun and very informative.”
“I liked the tools used, models, examples, hand-outs, hands-on and group/partner work.”
“Johanna was very professional, knowledgeable, and made class exciting.”
Special thanks to Tammy Steinwandt, Interim Executive Director/Health Care Coordinator, Des Moines Area Community College, Southridge, Center for hosting the program.
The day was made possible through a grant from Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Previous funding was also provided by RRF Foundation for Aging. Other partners included the Iowa Dental Hygienists' Association, and the University of Iowa Colleges of Nursing and Dentistry that hold the copyright on the curriculum and other community colleges that piloted the training.
Classes and Training
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry has graciously donated their time and expertise to provide a NEW recorded Mouth Care Matters in-service that can be used as an introduction to the full program. Iowa CareGivers is teaming up with several community colleges, University of Iowa Colleges of Nursing and Dentistry, and the I-Smile Program, administered by the Iowa Department of Public Health to increase access to the one-day training. If you have general program questions, please contact Iowa CareGivers at information@iowacaregivers.org.
Order Supplies
Purchase supplies to extend the messaging of Mouth Care Matters to everyday interactions. Put messaging at people’s fingertips to ensure good mouth care.
Reports and Evaluations
Read these reports and evaluations to learn more about the Mouth Care Matters project, lessons learned, efficacy of the program, and recommendations for increasing access to better oral care.
Cluster randomized control trial of nursing home residents’ oral hygiene following the Mouth Care Matters education program for certified nursing assistants
One of the most important things you learn in this program is