All smiles for launch of oral health campaign

The British Dental Health Foundation is delighted to announce the start of National Smile Month

The National Smile Month – the UK’s biggest oral health campaign - starts today, Monday 20 May, and finishes on 20 June, with as many people as possible urged to take a moment to consider how they can do something to improve their oral health.

In its simplest form, National Smile Month promotes three key messages for great oral health:

• Brush for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Cut down on how often you eat sugary foods and drinks
• Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend

With almost 2,500 organisations taking part in the campaign, people up and down the country have the opportunity to get smiling with the icon of this year’s campaign – the ‘smiley’. From local dental practices and education centres to shopping centres and sports teams, the smiley will not be too far away.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “The smileys are a great way for everyone to engage with the campaign. They’re fun and can make oral health an approachable subject.

“Behind the smiles there are still some important oral health messages to remember. That’s why our smileys have the Foundation’s three key messages to improve oral health on them. We hope more people than ever before will take part in National Smile Month and help to educate as many people as possible about how to gain and the benefits of great oral health.”

The campaign has the backing of platinum sponsors Listerine, Oral-B and Wrigley. Philips, Lloyds Pharmacy, Argos, Invisalign, Bupa, NUK and Denplan are also supporting this year’s campaign – which promises to be the biggest on record.

To see where your local event is taking place and to find out more about the campaign, please visit www.smilemonth.org