May 25, 2017 by abbeyden
National Smile Month is celebrating its 41st birthday this year! That’s a great number of years to be spreading the word about oral health and how to achieve and maintain a healthy mouth. However, there’s still work to be done.
The three main messages of this year’s campaign are to brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time in the day with fluoride toothpaste; cut down on sugary food and drinks and finally to visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.
National Smile Month is for all dental and health professionals. As well as schools, pharmacies, colleges and community groups, which take part. In fact, it’s for anyone with interest in good oral care who would like to deliver a positive message about how to look after our teeth and gums and to improve the quality of people’s smiles within the UK.
There are thousands of events and activities occurring throughout the UK this month for National Smile Month, from 15th May to 15th June. To find out more about what’s on in your area, visit http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/events/
As well as promoting visiting your dentist regularly, there are also some top tips for a healthy mouth:-
- Clean in between your teeth with an inter-dental brush or floss regularly
- Don’t use mouthwash directly after brushing as you rinse away the fluoride from the toothpaste
- Change your toothbrush every two to three months or sooner if the toothbrush becomes frayed
- To check if you have bad breath, lick your wrist, let it dry, then smell it, and if it smells then it’s likely your breath does to
- Avoid snacking and try to only have sugary foods and drinks at mealtimes as this reduces the time your tooth enamel is under attack from sugar
- Finishing a meal with a piece of cheese helps reduce the effects of acids from the foods damaging your teeth
Alongside those top tips, we liked some National Smile Month fun facts, such as:-
- ‘It takes 43 muscles to frown, but only 17 to smile.’
- ‘61% of us have been attracted to somebody by their smile alone!’
If you would like to contact us about any oral health concerns you may have or to book an appointment to improve your smile, please call 01757 705 607 or visit:
