National Smile Month

National Smile Month

It’s National Smile Month, which means it’s time to brush up on your oral health. 

National Smile Month is the nation’s annual reminder to prioritise your oral health.

New research by the campaign's organisers, the Oral Health Foundation, discovered the smile comes second only to personality, with a huge 56% of daters saying that an attractive smile is one if the top three things they look for in a potential partner.

A spokesperson for the Oral Health Foundation said: "If you are looking for love, it is vitally important that you keep your smile healthy to find that person of your dreams. To give you a helping hand we, have put together the singletons guide to oral health, with everything you need to do to use your smile and find that special someone.

"The five things you must do to get the partner of your dreams..." 

• Brush Up – A simple step but one of the things that many people often forget to do. Research shows that as many as a quarter of us fail to brush our teeth twice a day, with men by far the worst offenders as only two thirds brush twice a day compared to four out of five women. Brushing only once increases the chances of developing tooth decay by up to a third. When brushing also bear in mind to spit don’t rinse when you’re finished so the protective fluoride stays on your teeth longer and you can keep you smile as healthy as possible.
• Think between the lines – Brushing alone only cleans two thirds of your teeth so it’s vital to clean between your teeth every day to in order to keep your smile happy. Nearly two in three of us say that we clean between our teeth regularly (63%), but with previous research suggesting that 14 per cent of us find cleaning the toilet more appealing than flossing every day we think we can assume some people may not be telling the whole tooth. Cleaning between your teeth can be achieved with interdental brushes and can also be done with dental floss or tape. Ask your dentist or hygienist for advice on how to use these products correctly and safely, and please be honest with them.
• Stay regular – When was the last time you paid a visit to your dentist? Research shows that almost a third (30%) of us don’t visit the dentist every year, meaning there are potentially millions or oral health problems getting missed. When you visit your dental team, they give your teeth a full check-up to ensure your smile is fresh and also catch any early signs of issues such as tooth decay of gum disease. It is estimate that two thirds of Brits are still apprehensive of a visit to the dentist but modern techniques mean that there is absolutely nothing to worry about, give them a call.
• Keep fresh - Chewing sugar free gum after meals is a great way to keep your smile healthy on the go, while also keeping your breath fresh. After you eat and drink anything the enamel on your teeth is softened and can be brushed away leading to dental erosion and the pain and discomfort that comes with it. But have no fear, by chewing sugar free gum you promote saliva production, the mouths natural defence against acid attacks, and your mouth gets back to its normal state much quicker. It also means you won’t have that coffee smell on your breath from lunch and overall a much more kissable mouth.
• Smile - The key to attraction really is as simple as flashing a smile. Over half of us (56%) say that a good looking smile is one if the things we look for in a potential partner so keep your mouth healthy. A simple smile can make others feel at ease around you and can be a powerful show of emotion the rest is up to you.

Between 15 May and 15 June National Smile Month is dedicated to creating better smiles. The campaign, organised by the Oral Health Foundation, highlights three key messages, all of which go a long way in helping us develop and maintain a healthy mouth.

They are:

• Brush your teeth last thing at night and on at least one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks.
• Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.