

National Smile Month runs from 17th May to 17th June is the largest and longest-running campaign to promote good oral health. Together, with thousands of individuals and organisations, it highlights five key messages. These of which go a long way in helping you develop and maintain a healthy mouth. They are:
Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes ensures a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. Before breakfast and in the evening after your last meal would be ideal. It prevents plaque build-up, leading to more serious tooth loss, decay and gum disease. To reduce plaque, even more, flossing can help get between the teeth where the brush can not always reach. It also means any bits of food still stuck is removed. Do not forget the back of the mouth, where you may have crowns or implants.
Cutting down on the amount of sugar you consume daily ensures your risk of gum disease is reduced and prevents unnecessary tooth loss. Using a mouthwash can further reduce the plaque build-up around teeth after brushing but should not replace brushing. It also kills bacteria and freshens breath.
Visiting your dentist, whether young or old, means any issues that may come up can be treated and prevented by regular checks.
NHS dental care for children is free. Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is, so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can help prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child’s mouth for the dentist to look at is useful to practice for the future. When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child from worrying about future visits. Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist.
Avoid snacking and try only to have sugary foods and drinks at mealtimes, reducing the time your teeth come under attack.
Pregnant women with healthy gums may be around three times less likely to have a premature baby, reducing the risk of having a low birth weight. Research says a one-in-four chance that a pregnant woman with gum disease could give birth before 35 weeks. This is because gum disease raises the levels of the chemicals that bring on labour.
At hotchemist, we care about your health. Would you mind taking a look at more of our public health posts?
How do you rate this article on National Smile Month? Like us on facebook.
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |