Together with thousands of individuals and organisations, National Smile Month highlights key messages all of which go a long way in helping deliver better oral health for all.
With this year’s campaign due to start on May 16, the charity wants to remind all dental and healthcare professionals to support their important work by purchasing patient and campaign materials through their online store.
Director of educational resources, Amanda Oakey, explained why healthcare professionals should get involved in National Smile Month and how they can get the most out of the charity’s campaigns tools and products:
“At the Oral Health Foundation we are determined to improve oral health in the UK. Not only do our educational resources play a significant role in communicating, educating and motivating patients towards developing and maintaining better oral health but the funds raised through them enable us to achieve our charitable goals.
“With your help and hard work we are able to get important messages to individuals and communities who are often disadvantaged, vulnerable and more at risk of oral disease.
“Last year more than 4,000 organisations took part in the National Smile Month and supported us by purchasing our resources. This year we want the campaign to go even further and are appealing for your help in reaching even more people.
“We have educational resources available to suit every budget and needs and all of the proceeds contribute directly to providing better oral health for all.”
The Oral Health Foundation is an independent charity which relies on the support of the dental and healthcare community. By purchasing products through their store they are able to achieve their key charitable goals.
The money raised through educational resources is very important:
- £1 allows printing resources which can be displayed in a dental practice and spread awareness of oral health.
- £5 pays for processing the registration of one of the fantastic dental practices who support National Smile Month. Allowing the impact of the campaign to really reach the heart of local communities.
- £10 allows for one of the expert Dental Helpline staff to take a call from a patient in need of urgent oral health advice and support.
- £25 creates and distributes the iconic smileys, which thousands of dental professionals use on social media to support the #MySmileySelfie campaign and spread important oral health messages.
- £50 delivers the National Smile Month campaign pack full of essential educational resources, giving a dental practice everything they need to kick start their own event.
“It is the 40th Birthday of National Smile Month this year and to celebrate we have lots of new and exclusive resources to help you join our party,” added Amanda.
“Our Bumper Birthday Pack, for example, is a fantastic resource to bring a smile to everyone’s face and provides you with everything that you could possibly need to communicate important oral health messages to everyone, and have a great time while doing so.”
You can support National Smile Month by registering your interest in the campaign at www.smilemonth.org/register
It only takes two minutes and in return you will receive your free registration pack to set you on your way to joining the campaign.
As an added bonus there are still Red Glitter Smileys to be found in some lucky registration packs. If there is one in your pack then you can join us at the National Smile Month launch party. All you have to do is take a photo of yourself with your Red Glitter Smiley and share it on social media with #MyRedGlitterSmiley