National Smile Month 2020: Caring for Your Family’s Oral Health

National Smile Month 2020: Caring for Your Family’s Oral Health

National Smile Month is an annual campaign that promotes the importance of maintaining good oral health and promoting the value of a healthy smile. Organised by the Oral Health Foundation, this years’ National Smile Month takes place between the 18th May and 18th of June.

A healthy smile and good oral health is a vital part of overall wellbeing, and National Smile Month provides a valuable service, raising awareness of important health issues and providing advice and support for groups where oral disease is far too common.

Essential Oral Health Tips for Your Family

To support National Smile Month, we are here to spread key messages to help you ensure happier, healthier smiles for you and your family.

For great oral health:

Brush your teeth at least twice a day

It’s important for all members of the family to brush their teeth at least twice a day, every day. It’s advisable to brush last thing at night, as well as at least one other occasion during the day. Brush for at least two minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste and making sure to brush all surfaces of the teeth, including around the gums.

To ensure that your children brush their teeth properly, why not get them to brush along to their favourite song, or make a game out of brushing?

Use mouthwash

As well as using a fluoride toothpaste, you should also swill your mouth out with a fluoride mouthwash. As well as rinsing your teeth, gums and mouth, mouthwash can also help to kill harmful bacteria that can live on your tongue and between your teeth, helping to prevent tooth decay.

Floss or use interdental brushes

Flossing or using interdental brushes helps to get rid of plaque and pieces of food between your teeth. Interdental brushes are available in different widths to suit the sizes of the gaps between your teeth and can be very useful to clean between your teeth if you wear fixed braces.

Limit sugar in your diet

To protect your teeth and gums, it’s important to cut down on how many sugary foods and drinks you consume, and how often you consume them. Sticking to a nutritional and balanced diet is important for caring your your oral health. Foods that contain plenty of calcium and protein are important for protecting and rebuilding your tooth enamel, fighting against tooth decay.

Care for orthodontic devices

If you or a family member are currently receiving orthodontic treatment, it’s important to pay extra attention to your oral health. Make sure to be extra careful and vigilant when brushing your teeth, particularly if wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. Brackets and wires can provide hiding places for plaque, bacteria and food particles to cling on to, so make sure to clean carefully around your braces.

Emergency Orthodontic Treatment

As of the 20th March, the government has advised that the safest action is for orthodontic practices to be closed, except for emergencies and urgent appointments in order to minimise close contact in patient areas and prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you do have an emergency, please contact Dulwich Orthodontics on 020 8265 9797, leave a message WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBER, NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH, and we will contact you to arrange an appointment or advice as appropriate.