National Smile Month is an oral health campaign like no other! Occurring annually, at its most basic level, the campaign promotes three key messages, all of which go a long way to improve oral health in the UK. They are:

          Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste;

         Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks;

          Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

     Other ways to improve oral health include: 

  Clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss at least once a day;

      Use a mouthwash as part of your regular oral health routine;

      Chew sugar-free gum in between meals to help protect your teeth throughout the day;

  If you wear dentures, clean them twice a day.

Organised by the UK’s leading oral health charity, the British Dental Health Foundation, National Smile Month will take place between May 20 and June 20 in 2012.

The campaign is the focal point for thousands of dental and health professionals to co-ordinate events and activities across the UK to improve oral health. Community groups, businesses, schools, community groups and members of the public also help to organise grass-roots activities such as fun days, talks, sponsored events, displays, open sessions and competitions. These events form the back-bone of the campaign and help to share the proven messages and importance of good oral health.

The campaign has coincided with major improvements in the nation’s oral health in the past 30 years:

       Over three fifths of adults in England and Northern Ireland (61 per cent and 60 per cent respectively) and over two thirds in Wales and Scotland (both 69 per cent) now attend their dentists regularly.  In 1978, the figure was just 44 per cent in England and 39 per cent in Wales. 

      The proportion of the population with no natural teeth in England, Northern Ireland and Wales has fallen to just six per cent in 2009. In 1978, the figure was as high as 37 per cent in Wales.

      The number of adults with 21 or more natural teeth has risen to 86 per cent in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  In 1978, the percentage was as low as 68 per cent in Northern Ireland.

      In 2009, two thirds (66.6 per cent) of children aged 12 were found to be free of visible dental decay.  In 1973, this figure was less than 10 per cent. 

      The dental health of five year old children is even better - just 31 per cent of children show any obvious dental decay. 

      The majority of adults (71 per cent) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now free of visible dental decay on the surfaces of their crowns.  In Northern Ireland this figure has nearly halved from 52 per cent to 28 per cent since 1998.

      The UK is one of the most likely nations in Europe to visit their dentist for a check-up – helping to prevent the battle against poor oral health.   The UK was ranked second (72 per cent), after the Netherlands (79%), in a recent survey.

 … But there’s still more to do

      Nearly one in ten people in the UK aren’t registered with a dentist.

      One person in 10 is unaware of the threat of mouth cancer.

      Poor dental health has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

      Direct links have been established between bacteria in the mouth and heart attacks.

      One third of people in Britain still only brush their teeth once a day, or less.

At the Foundation, we are dedicated to improving oral health and through National Smile Month we can transform the health of those people across the UK who need support and more importantly, education about the values of keeping their mouths healthy.

National Smile Month 2012 is all about having fun and getting people excited in their oral health. There aren’t many facial expressions as powerful as a smile and by looking after our teeth we can feel great, be more confident, which can to success and happiness.

Hosting games and competitions, getting children excited, or even rediscovering your own childhood, is a fantastic way to ensure people to learn a little more about just how important a healthy smile is, after all, poor oral health isn’t just bad for our mouths but can lead to a number of systemic illnesses and diseases throughout the body.

This year’s campaign will create many more opportunities for supporters, organisations, schools and workplaces to help share the message of how to achieve great oral health. We are looking for people in all corners of the UK who can take our values and passion of oral health education and spread the word among their community. If you would like to be involved in National Smile Month, we would love to hear from you so just get in touch. You will also find lots more campaign information right here, whether you want host an event, fundraise or just learn more about your oral health. 

This year we are teaming up with three giants of oral healthcare to deliver the best campaign possible. We are proud to once again work alongside Oral-B, Wrigley and Listerine, who’s knowledge, expertise and reputation will help the campaign achieve the recognition and press coverage it deserves.  Over the past 30 years National Smile Month has coincided with major improvements of oral health in the UK and continues to provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in that continuing challenge.