by Lucy Ashton
Oral Health staff across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are celebrating the 50th National Smile Month by sharing some simple tips to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Scotland has historically had a reputation as a country of poor oral health, but over the years that situation has improved – and National Smile Month has had a critical role to play.
Launched in 1977, National Smile Month – which runs this year until 11th June – has a simple mission: to help people understand how to look after their teeth and gums at home, not just in the dental chair.
From the beginning, the campaign set out to share clear, practical advice people could use at home, to make oral care part of daily life, not just dental visits, and to help families build healthy routines early.
Over the years, staff in NHSGGC’s Oral Health Directorate and Oral Health Improvement Team, working with the Public Dental Service, local dental practices and a range of other stakeholders, have embraced the objectives of National Smile Month – and over the coming weeks they will be sharing a range of information, hints and tips to demonstrate how even small changes to daily routines can make big differences to our oral health and wellbeing.
Dr Michael McGrady, Chief of Dentistry and Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHSGGC, said: “We are proud once again to support National Smile Month. Over the years, the simple objectives it represents have helped make a tangible difference to oral health in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and across Scotland.
“However, while we are making progress, there is still a long way to go. In Scotland, children miss an average of three school days every year due to dental problems, while two in three adults have visible plaque, and one in three have never flossed or cleaned between their teeth.
“And that’s why we’re using the 50th National Smile Month to make a special appeal to people of all ages – a healthy mouth means a healthy life, and all it takes is a few minutes every day to transform your oral health.”
To mark National Smile Month, the Oral Health Improvement Team has issued some simple tips to build healthy habits into our daily lives:
- Brush teeth twice a day, morning and night, using a 1450ppm fluoride toothpaste. The fluoride level of your toothpaste will be clearly displayed on the packaging or toothpaste tube.
- Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes and choose healthier snacks in between.
- Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups. If you have children or care for a child, access and make use of Childsmile programmes where available.
- Small changes to daily habits can make a big difference to everyone’s oral health – but especially children’s.
Develop a healthy brushing routine:
- Brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning after breakfast and at night before bed.
- Use gentle circular motions and make sure you brush every surface of the teeth and along the gum line.
- Don’t rinse or use mouthwash straight after brushing. Wait at least 20 minutes to allow fluoride to strengthen and protect your teeth.
- Around 40% of the tooth surface is between the teeth, so it’s important to clean interdentally using floss, TePe brushes or other interdental aids.
- Brushing too hard can wear away enamel, damage gums and lead to sensitivity.
- Replace your toothbrush regularly.
Dr McGrady said: “By making a healthy oral care routine part of our daily lives, we can go a long way to protecting our smiles for the future.
“It’s never too late to adopt good oral care habits, but the younger we start, the better it will be, so if you have children or young people in your care, helping them to make small changes now will bring a lifetime of benefits.”
To find out more about National Smile Month, click here.
To find out more about Childsmile, click here.