Looking after the mouth through cancer.
Dental hygienist, clinical tutor, researcher and author. President of the Mouth Cancer Foundation, working so that no one faces cancer treatment without good mouth care.
Mouth care guidance Get in touch
About
Cancer and its treatment can change how the mouth looks, feels and works. Eating, speaking and smiling can all be affected. Good mouth care can make a real difference.
Jocelyn Harding MSc FCGDent DipDH, known as Joss, began her dental career in 1987 as a dental nurse in the Royal Navy and qualified as a dental hygienist in 1992. During nine years of service she was posted to Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Hawaii.
She still works in clinical practice three days a week at NUYU Dental and Aesthetics in Cheltenham, teaches as a Clinical Tutor at Bristol Dental School, and is honoured to be the current President of the Mouth Cancer Foundation in a voluntary three-year role.
Career highlights
- 1987–1996Served in the Royal Navy, starting as a dental nurse and qualifying as a dental hygienist in 1992.
- 2016Began publishing in medical and dental journals. One BDJ Team article became the publication’s second most-accessed.
- 2018Appointed Clinical Ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation. Won Dental Hygienist of the Year at the Probe Awards, received the Philips ShineOn Award and joined the UKOMiC team.
- 2023Completed her MSc, published a peer-reviewed textbook that has gained international recognition, won the first Ikigai Oral Hygiene Community Recognition Award and became President-Elect of the Mouth Cancer Foundation.
- 2024Honoured to be invited to become a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, and invested on 25 January 2024. Won first prize for her poster at the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy Oral Health Conference.
- 2025Research published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene. Named Dental Hygienist of the Year at the Private Dentistry Awards.
- 2026Wrote “Supporting patients beyond head and neck cancer” for the British Dental Journal, published 9 October 2026.
What I do
- PresidentMouth Cancer Foundation – a voluntary three-year role, championing better care and awareness.
- TreasurerUKOMiC, the United Kingdom Oral Management in Cancer care group.
- Clinical tutorBristol Dental School (part time) – teaching the next generation of dental professionals.
- Dental hygienistThree days a week at NUYU Dental and Aesthetics, Cheltenham, caring for patients directly.
- ResearcherStudying oral health and supportive care for people affected by cancer.
- AuthorWriting for patients, families and professionals.
Mouth care around cancer treatment
Mouth care matters at every stage. A dental check before treatment starts, a gentle routine during it, and long-term follow-up afterwards.
Before treatment
See a dentist early, ideally before treatment begins, so problems can be dealt with first.
During treatment
Keep the mouth clean and comfortable, and tell your care team about soreness, dryness or changes in taste.
After treatment
Keep up regular dental visits. Some effects, like a dry mouth, can last and need ongoing care.
Download the free leaflet (PDF)
This is general information, not personal medical advice. Always follow guidance from your own oncology and dental teams.
Writing and research
Care of Head and Neck Cancer Patients for Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists – edited by Jocelyn J. Harding, Wiley Blackwell. A practical guide for dental professionals caring for people with head and neck cancer. Royalties go to the Mouth Cancer Foundation.
View the book on Wiley- Education of Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists Working with Head and Neck Cancer in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Departments in the United Kingdom: A Quantitative Study – International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2025.
View on PubMed
- Dental care of cancer patients before, during and after treatment – BDJ Team, 2017. The publication’s second most-accessed article, with more than 140,000 accesses.
Read the article
Speaking
Talks, webinars and podcasts for patients, nurses, dental teams and universities across the UK and abroad. A selection:
- Jan 2025Royal Marsden Head and Neck Cancer conference
- Nov 2024Opening presentation at the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy Oral Health Conference, where her poster won first prize
- Jul 2024Presented her MSc research at the International Federation of Dental Hygienists conference, South Korea
- Jun 2024British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons conference, nurses programme; Hear the Roar podcast
- Oct 2023British Society of Periodontology annual conference; Eastman Dental Podcast
- Jul 2023British Association of Dental Therapy Diamond Anniversary Conference
- Jun 2023British Association of Head and Neck Oncology Nurses annual conference
- Apr 2023University of Brescia, Italy, by invitation after winning a bursary from the National Colloquium of University Professors
- Nov 2022Opening presentation, British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy Oral Health Conference
- Apr 2022Talking Mouths Talking Cancer Care conference, London
- Nov 2019TEDx talk; first Talking Mouths Talking Cancer Care conference, Birmingham; Radio Gloucestershire interviews
- Oct 2019House of Commons, launch of Mouth Cancer Action Month
- Jun 2019Public Health England meeting on oral cancer for the Delivering Better Oral Health guidelines
- Mar 2019European Oncology Convention
- Nov 2017Opening presentation, British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy Oral Health Conference
- May 2017British Dental Association Annual Conference, Manchester
Also dozens of webinars, hospital teaching sessions, society meetings and study days across the UK.
Selected publications
Articles and features
- BDJ cover: Supporting patients beyond head and neck cancer – British Dental Journal 241, 442–443, 9 October 2026
- Window on their health – Dental Nursing
- Dental care of cancer patients before, during and after treatment – guest post, Peppersmith
- ‘It’s always good to laugh!’ – BDJ Team
- From caring to crackers – BDJ Team
- The cracker challenge: how it feels to have a dry mouth – Dental Nursing
- Oral care in cancer: helping patients with tooth, gum and mouth problems – British Journal of Nursing
- Re: Updated clinical guidelines on the oral management of oncology patients – Faculty Dental Journal
- Oral care of patients in the cancer setting – Cancer Nursing Practice
- Mouth Care for Head and Neck Cancer Patients: a Dental Hygienist’s Perspective – Dental Update
- A lockdown legacy – Dental Nursing
- Caring for cancer patients at a vulnerable time – BDJ Team
- Biomin F: supporting oral health for patients with cancer – Dentistry
- One person every three hours lost to mouth cancer – Dentistry
- Improving mouth cancer management – The Probe
Book reviews
- Book review: Care of head and neck cancer patients for dental hygienists and dental therapists – BDJ Team
- Book review: Care of head and neck cancer patients for dental hygienists and dental therapists – Dental Therapy Update
- A useful guide to caring for head and neck cancer patients – review by Joanna Hawkes and Mary Burke, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Interviews and guides
- Q & A with Siobhan Kelleher – Mouth Cancer Foundation
- How to spot the signs of mouth cancer – The Telegraph
- A guide to mouth cancer – endorsed by the European Association of Oral Medicine
- The Critical Role of Hygienists & Therapists in Identifying Mouth Cancer – Dental Health Matters podcast, British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, with Professor Mike Lewis
- Importance of Evidence Based Oral Care and Management – Rad Chat podcast
- Collaboration is key to caring for cancer patients – Dentistry, 2021
Contact
For speaking, teaching, research collaboration or media enquiries.
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Looking for support or information about mouth cancer? Visit the Mouth Cancer Foundation: mouthcancerfoundation.org.