Exploring the oral health of sex workers in Liverpool: The Event
This video features Janine speaking at a landmark event for Feminist Dentist, sharing insights from a ground-breaking research project exploring the oral health experiences of sex workers, an area that has previously been largely unexplored on a global scale.
The project set out to move beyond the traditional clinical view of oral health and instead understand its wider impact on everyday life. What emerged was a powerful picture of how deeply oral health is connected to wellbeing, dignity, and identity. For the women involved, issues such as broken teeth, toothache, and untreated dental problems were never just physical, they shaped how they ate, how they connected with others, and how they moved through the world.
A key focus of the research was understanding not only the impact of poor oral health, but the barriers that sit behind it. The findings highlighted a combination of structural and social challenges, including limited access to supportive care, financial barriers, and experiences of stigma within healthcare settings. These factors combined to create environments where seeking treatment could feel unsafe, inaccessible, or even discouraging.
Beyond the physical experience of pain, a strong theme throughout the research was dignity. Many participants described how oral health affected their confidence to smile, speak, and engage socially. In some cases, it created a sense of shame that led to withdrawal from relationships and opportunities, reinforcing cycles of isolation. The research made clear that oral health is not separate from identity, it is deeply tied to how people see themselves and how they are able to participate in life.
Another important insight was the interconnected nature of health. Oral health could not be viewed in isolation, but instead acted as a gateway to broader life outcomes including employment, social connection, enjoyment, and overall quality of life. When oral health is compromised, so too are many of the opportunities that allow people to thrive.
Alongside the research, an exhibition brought these findings to life through words and artwork created by the women involved. This creative element added depth and humanity to the data, allowing lived experiences to be expressed in a way that traditional research methods often cannot capture. It created a powerful, honest reflection of the realities behind the findings.
The research has now been completed and analysed in Liverpool, with findings published in a zine available via the project website. The work has since expanded into Manchester and is set to continue in London in the autumn, further extending its reach and impact.
At its core, the project challenges how oral health is understood. It calls for a shift towards more inclusive, trauma-informed, and socially aware approaches to care, where dignity, access, and lived experience sit at the centre of the conversation.
