27 February 2015

Oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation is delighted to announce the return of National Smile Month for 2015.

The UK's largest oral health campaign is set to take place between 18 May and 18 June, and aims to make a significant impact improving oral health at grassroots level and educating on the importance of good oral hygiene.

In its simplest form, National Smile Month promotes three key messages at the heart of good oral health; brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste, cut down on how often you eat sugary foods and drinks, and visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

In 2014, the campaign was more popular than ever before. More than 750 media articles covered National Smile Month, with more than 3,000 organisations registering their interest to promote better oral health.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, challenged the dental and healthcare profession to go one step further in 2015.

Dr Carter said: "Each and every year it amazes me how many people actively get involved in National Smile Month. We can look back on the last 39 years since the very first campaign and see how it has coincided with some of the major oral health improvements in the UK. Take the recent data on children's oral health for example.

"Much of the credit for these improvements goes to hard working dental professionals who go out into their local communities during the campaign to educate of the importance of good oral hygiene. By getting involved with the campaign, together, with your help, we can herald even further improvements."

Fans of the Smiley will be delighted to know it returns with a new look in 2015, and Dr Carter believes they symbolise exactly what the campaign is about.

"National Smile Month is not just about education, it's also about having lots of fun. The Smiley has been a roaring success with dental professionals and the public alike since its arrival and we hope it's continues to drive the public's interest in oral health."

National Smile Month is also being supported by some of the nation's best-known brands and retailers. Wrigley's Extra, Oral-B and Invisalign return as platinum sponsors of the campaign.

Jamie Morley, Country Manager for Align Technology commented "Align Technology is working with the British Dental Health Foundation, supporting National Smile Month for the second year as our aims dovetail with the Foundation's - we want to help make the nation smile.

"The Invisalign system is clearly a different way to straighten teeth and because it is virtually undetectable it makes it highly desirable for adults who don't want to put their aspirations, careers, hobbies and lifestyles on hold, and whose lives would be improved if only they had the confidence to smile".

Polly Garland, Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme Manager, said: "Wrigley is delighted to continue sponsoring National Smile Month, a great reminder to dental professionals to encourage patients to include sugarfree gum as part of their oral hygiene routine.

"Our busy, on-the-go lifestyles mean we now snack more than ever before, and so our teeth are frequently exposed to higher levels of plaque acids. Research has shown that chewing sugarfree gum after eating or drinking can help neutralise plaque acids and promote the remineralisation of tooth enamel, and therefore help to keep our smiles clean and healthy. By introducing our newly reformulated Extra products, we're hoping more people will incorporate sugarfree gum into their daily oral health routine."

Jane Kidson, Oral B Professional Oral Health UK Country Leader, said: "Oral-B, platinum sponsors of National Smile Month, are urging practices to back the campaign to heighten awareness of oral health. Dentistry often receives little ‘airplay' in the consumer press and National Smile Month provides the ideal opportunity to get people motivated."