Jocelyn Harding

Dental Hygienist MSc FCGDent DipDH
GDC 4276
Dedicated to improving oral health during and after cancer treatment.

About Joss

Jocelyn (Joss) began her dental career in 1987 as a dental nurse in the Royal Navy. Since then, she has become a highly respected dental hygienist and educator, with a particular focus on supporting cancer patients in managing their oral health.Since 2016, Joss has been dedicated to advancing her knowledge, sharing her expertise, and raising awareness of the critical importance of oral care—especially for individuals living with a cancer diagnosis.In 2018 Joss was invited to be a Clinical Ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundations and a team member of UKOMiC.In 2023, she authored Care of Head and Neck Cancer Patients for Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists, a key resource for dental professionals. The following year, she was awarded a Fellowship by the College of General Dentistry. Joss continues to lecture and collaborate internationally, contributing to education and best practice in dental care for oncology patients.

Mouth care leaflet

An easy to read leaflet, originally kindly created by the charity BrushUpUK, is available in this FREE downloadable format.The leaflet is packed with lots of suggestions for keeping the mouth healthy, coping with dry mouth, ulcers and other long term effects of treatment.

Book - Care of Head and Neck Cancer Patients for Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists

Joss Harding, collaborated with over fifty of her colleagues to create a book for Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists. Care of Head and Neck Cancer Patients for Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists is an advisory guide for dental hygienists, dental therapists, and other health care professionals to explore the journey of head and neck cancer patients. The book focuses on before, during and after treatment, covering head and neck cancer treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and innovative new therapies.Joss Harding is an award-winning dental hygienist based in Gloucestershire. Joss goes above and beyond every year for the Mouth Cancer Foundation, running our online support group each week with Patient Ambassador Karen, speaking at events and conferences, and continuing to help us raise awareness.

More about Joss

Noticing a lack of oral aftercare support for patients following a cancer diagnosis, she decided to explore this further, creating a helpful leaflet with BrushUpUK.Since 2016, Joss has been widely published in national and international journals. Her article in BDJ Team is the second most accessed, with over 141,000 views. In 2018, she received The Probe Dental Hygienist of the Year Award and the Philips Shine-On Award. Joss was invited to become a Clinical Ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation and a Team member of UKOMiC. In 2023, Joss completed her MSc and published a peer-reviewed book, which has been reviewed in the US, Australia, and New Zealand.In 2024, Joss was invited to become a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, and to speak at both the annual BSDHT Oral Health Conference and the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene in Seoul.Joss is currently the President-Elect for the Mouth Cancer Foundation, the longest running head and neck cancer charity in the UK.Joss is delighted that her career to date has led her to collaborate with healthcare professionals nationally and internationally—and it hasn’t slowed down!