National Smile Month 2023

25th April 2023

 Tuesday, May 16, 2023 – Friday, Jun 16, 2023 marks National Smile Month.  The Oral Health Improvement Team want to remind everyone how important it is to look after your smile.

  • By keeping our teeth and gums healthy we are more likely to reduce our risk of certain cancers, particularly in women, as well as some forms of dementia.
  • The number of teeth we have is strongly linked to how long we will live – those with 20 teeth or more at the age of 70years have a considerably higher chance of living longer than those with less than 20 teeth.
  • Gum disease can potentially increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
  • Pregnant women with healthy gums may be less likely tohave pre-eclampsia, a baby that is premature or an underweight baby.

For more information on this, visit the Oral Health Foundation https://www.dentalhealth.org/

For more information on the Oral Health Improvement Team Oral Health Improvement (sharepoint.com)

Here are some tips on how to keep your smile healthy:

  1. Brush last thing at night, and one other time throughout the day with a fluoride toothpaste
  2. When brushing, spit out the excess toothpaste and do NOT rinse with water.
  3. Have sugary foods and drinks less often.
  4. Visit the dentist every 6 months