On 20th March 2019, Smile Together joined other dental professionals worldwide in marking World Oral Health Day, an annual campaign emphasising the importance of good oral health. Our teams incorporated the national campaign theme “Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health” to highlight how good oral care contributes to overall health and wellbeing and encourage individuals to make oral health a personal priority. Their patient-facing activities on the day proved really popular and engaging.
Many of the things we can do to protect our teeth – such as having a healthy diet low in sugar, not smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption – also have a beneficial effect on our overall health, which is why our Staff Council-led Health & Wellbeing Committee regularly advises our teams on how to improve their health and wellbeing by making easy but significant lifestyle changes, such as cutting down on fizzy drinks.
It’s never too early or late to start looking after your oral health, which is why our Brighter Smiles team educates schoolchildren and their parents, carers and teachers about good oral care. In Cornwall around 20 children aged 5-9 are admitted to hospital every week for tooth extraction under general anaesthetic – but this is preventable and by teaching children effective toothbrushing techniques, and providing health education packs for the whole family, we’re helping to make a real difference.
Oral diseases like tooth decay and gum disease are preventable, and early detection and treatment via regular check-ups and good oral hygiene habits are essential for reducing the risk and helping us all to have teeth that last a lifetime.
