As spring finally crops up and an extra hour lost, it can only mean that National Smile Month is almost upon us. It’s an opportunity for all of us to improve oral health, and we feature some statistics to highlight why the campaign is still an important springboard for bettering oral health.

Children’s oral health is always a hot topic and a barometer of success, and we respond to the latest Children’s Dental Health Survey. While there have been improvements in many areas, too many still lag behind. Ben Atkins discusses how we can help to turn those figures around.

Following on from the survey, the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy have announced First Smiles, a campaign dedicated to improving, well, first smiles. With children set to benefit from their expertise nationwide, President Michaela ONeill explains how the campaign will go about making those changes.

This issue also sees ASH – one of the leading charities that campaigns and works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco – discuss the current situation regarding e-cigarettes. With new legislation set to be introduced limiting their availability, Chief Executive Deborah Arnott has her say on e-cigs.

On 1 April new NHS dental charges were introduced, and our infographic gives you the latest prices and what treatments are covered.

Lorna Grazette may be approaching the final months of her term as trustee of the British Dental Health Foundation, but her enthusiasm remains as vibrant now as it was four years ago. We talk to Lorna in our regular feature Two Minutes Twice a Day on what it’s like being a trustee – and more.

Enjoy the issue and we will see you in National Smile Month.

Access the latest issue from here, Word of Mouth, April 2015.