Between 17 May and 17 June 2021 it is National Smile Month where the Oral Health Foundation is raising awareness of important health issues and the importance of good oral hygiene. The Oral Health Foundation is an independent charity (not for profit) dedicated to improving oral health and wellbeing around the world. For more than 45 years they have continued to provide expert, independent and impartial advice on all aspects of oral health directly to those who need it most.

They work closely with governments, dental and health professionals, manufacturers, the dental trade, national and local agencies and the public, to achieve their mission of addressing the inequalities which exist in oral health, changing people’s lives for the better.

Formed in 1971, the concept of preventive dentistry and the benefits which could ensue from it were then very new and being practiced by only a small proportion of the dental profession. The founding fathers of the Oral Health Foundation wished to see the preventive message that ‘Teeth are for Life’ spread as widely as possible, with the aim of improving the overall oral health of everyone.

National smile month is a way in which they can promote their message, achieve their aims and raise money to help them provide education and oral hygiene products where they are needed most.

The Oral Health Foundation organises and runs two annual campaigns in the UK, National Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Action Month, in addition to school-based programmes like Dental Buddy. They use these campaigns to spread public awareness of oral health issues via the press while encouraging the health profession to be more active in education and oral health promotion in their local communities.

These campaigns have also grown overseas. They have helped health bodies and organisations in Ireland, the United States of America and the Middle East, all conduct their very own. They have also assisted oral health associations in eastern Europe organise dedicated mouth cancer campaigns. The group seeks a common European approach towards education, prevention and access to better oral health in Europe.

There are many ways in which you can get involved in this great cause so visit their website https://www.dentalhealth.org/Pages/Site/national-smile-month/Category/national-smile-month-activities to find out how.

Also, why not check out our smile gallery to get you thinking about national smile month? https://www.cheadlehulmedental.com/smile-gallery/