It’s the beginning of June and that means we are in the middle of National Smile Month (13th May to 13th June); a perfect time to remind us all of the importance of good oral hygiene.
Here at Ringley Park Dental Practice we’re pleased to see that awareness of the effect of sugar on teeth has improved in recent years, thanks to publicity around the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (The ‘Sugar Tax’) in 2018. However, the sad fact is that in 2017 – 18 there were still over 38,000 hospital extractions due to tooth decay in children.
The latest statistics from NHS England show that a significant proportion of the population do not visit the dentist regularly, this equates to 50% of adults not having seen an NHS dentist over the two years up to December 2018, and 42% of children in the 12 months up to December 2018.
So what can we do to ‘stop the rot’?
Attending regular dental check-ups is one of the three key measures recommended by the clinicians at Ringley Park, to ensure we all maintain a healthy mouth, teeth and gums:
• Brush your teeth last thing at night and on at least one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Cut down on the amount of sugary food and drink you consume, and the frequency with which you have them
• Visit your dentist and hygienist as often as is recommended
The focus on smiling is due to new research by the Oral Health Foundation which shows that more than half of British adults (51%) are often made to feel anxious about how their smile looks. Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, comments:
“It often gets overlooked but having the confidence to smile plays such an important role in our everyday life. A smile communicates a sign of friendship, trust and acceptability. It also has a significant impact on our relationships, careers and social life.”
Ultimately, the aim of National Smile Month is to help us all achieve good physical and mental wellbeing by improving our oral health, something which we at Ringley Park are passionate about too.
If you would like to book an appointment or you have any questions about your treatment with us, you can choose a convenient time online, or call us today on 01737 240123 and one of our friendly team will be only too happy to help.
