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Get a bright white smile for National Smile Month

Smiling is a great way to feel on top of the world as it releases endorphins and makes us feel better – even faking a smile can improve our mood *

But many of us are too shy to smile because we are self-conscious about the condition of our teeth and gums.

The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), in partnership with Oral Health America, is running this year’s National Smile Month, from May 17 to June 16.

The campaign, with the slogan ‘Look After Yourself, Brush for Health’, highlights the systemic links between oral health and overall body health.

Gum disease has been linked to serious illnesses such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and premature and low birth weight babies.

And worryingly, 19 out of 20 people will suffer from the disease at some point in their lives, yet with a good oral healthcare routine, people can easily prevent it from developing into something more serious. **

The BDHF will be promoting good oral hygiene through three key routines – brushing teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on sugary foods and drinks, and visiting the dentist regularly. 

But with a shortage of NHS dentists and the recession making it more difficult for people to afford private treatment, going for a check-up may not be straightforward.

Research carried out by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau suggests that limited access has resulted in one in six people not seeing a dentist in over two years. ***

However, in an independent review of NHS dentistry, dental professionals are being invited to attend engagement events across England to discuss improving access and quality. ****

The review team, appointed in December last year, has been investigating the variations in dental access and how the NHS can deliver continuous improvements in the quality of care.

Professor Jimmy Steele, Chair of the Independent Dentistry Review Team, said: “I want to continue to listen to the views of dentists and their teams, patients and NHS staff and to take their advice on improving access, promoting prevention and ensuring NHS dentistry of the highest quality.

“The NHS dentistry review is giving me and the review team some very useful insights into what matters most to both patients and the dental profession. I'd like to encourage dentists and their teams to share their opinions at these events and help us start to develop our recommendations.”

Westfield Health conducted its own online policyholder survey in February which addressed access to NHS dentistry.
The results found that, of the 978 respondents, around 10 per cent said they hadn’t visited a dentist in the last year. In addition, six per cent said they were not even registered with a dentist and 45 per cent of these said this was because they couldn’t find a dentist to accept them. *****

Dental is Westfield’s most popular benefit. It enables policyholders to claim money back towards the cost of check-ups and treatment, up to set limits.

All of Westfield Health’s cash plans include a dental benefit, which helps to provide more choice for people seeking immediate treatment and eases concerns about paying their dentist bills.

For more information about Westfield’s wide range of health cash plans, please call 0845 602 1629, visit www.westfieldhealth.com or email businessenquiries@westfieldhealth.com  

More information on National Smile Month can be found at  http://www.nationalsmileweek.org/

*http://ezinearticles.com/?When-Youre-Smiling!&id=87984

** http://www.nationalsmileweek.org/news-national-smile-month/nsm-fertility-national-smile-month.html

*** http://www.health4media.com/uk/pressrelease.php?cat=&co=&id=4391&mode=arc

****http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=398322&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

***** Westfield Health policyholder survey – Dental Care February 2009

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