National Smile Month gives everyone a reason to show their beautiful smile!
Originally called “Smile ‘77”, this event was founded in the UK in 1977 by the British Dental Health Foundation (now known as the Oral Health Foundation). Two years after its inception, the festivities became a week-long celebration called National Smile Week and eventually it developed into the month-long dental extravaganza which is now known as National Smile Month. In 2009, Oral Health America joined efforts with the Oral Health Foundation to co-celebrate National Smile Month in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The original intention of National Smile Month was to increase positive communication and facilitate a relationship between British dentists, their patients and those in the community who were not seeking regular dental care. According to the National Smile Month website, in the early days of the celebration, only one in three people in the UK actually had their natural teeth.
The beginning purpose of National Smile Month was to provide education regarding the importance of regular preventative dental care. The objectives of this, now global, event has since become a threefold message to help provide education regarding the value proper dental care has to overall health and vitality.
- Brush your teeth using fluoride toothpaste before bed and one other time during the day.
- Reduce sugary foods and drinks from your diet.
- Visit your dentist for regular check-ups.
Since 1977, National Smile Month has had a significant impact on dental health initiatives throughout the United Kingdom and United States, providing education about the impact of preventative dental treatment and how poor dental care can lead to other health problems. Dental practitioners have used the messaging of this month long event to educate patients, speak in schools and businesses and reach the medically underserved communities around them.
At Amundson Dental Associates, we applaud the efforts of both the UK and US based organizations who work tirelessly to provide dental health education. We hope that the celebration of National Smile Month will help our patients and the Grand Forks community embrace good dental health for a lifetime and not just for a month of recognition. This gives us all a reason to smile!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Smile_Month