This week marks the start of National Smile Month – a campaign which is all about highlighting the importance of a healthy mouth. 

Throughout the month our charity will be giving advice and support for anybody who needs a little extra help with the health of their mouth.  There are also lots of events and activities that you can get involved in to help us raise more awareness of why good oral health is important.

Below is a quick whistle-stop-tour guide of what the campaign is all about.

National Smile Month's key messages

During National Smile Month, we are promoting three key messages for better oral health:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes, last thing at night and at one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Use mouthwash and clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss every day.
• Cut down on how much sugar you have, and how often you have it.

No matter how you decide to support the campaign, please make sure you help us communicate these important messages.

Why are we doing it?

We believe that everybody deserves a healthy smile. A person’s oral health is a crucial part of their overall wellbeing.

That’s why, after nearly 50 years, our charity continues to provide oral health support and help to anybody who needs it.

Our activities and programmes, including National Smile Month, help some of the most vulnerable members of society. These can make a real difference to a person’s oral health. Supporting healthier lives through better oral health reflects everything that we do.

Help us achieve our goal of living in a world where everybody has a healthy mouth.

How can I get involved?

There are a number of ways you can get involved with National Smile Month this year, all from the comfort of your own home.

We have our Nominate A Smile competition which provides you with the opportunity to recognise someone who has gone the extra mile to make you smile. Or, maybe you’re a creative type and would like to take on our #smileypoem or #smileysingalong challenge?

We would also love our international supporters to get involved by helping our ‘Sharing your smile around the world’ initiative. Further details of everything that’s just been mentioned, as well some others activity ideas, can be found in our ‘How you can take part in National Smile Month’ section.

Visit www.smilemonth.org to learn more.

So there you have it, we hope you’ve found this quick guide useful. Don’t forget to make sure to use the campaign hashtag #SmileMonth in anything you on social media to mark the campaign. Please also don’t forget to tag in National Smile Month on Twitter (@SmileMonth) and Facebook (@SmileMonth) and Instagram (@dentalhealthorg).