April is Oral Health Month in Canada. Therefore, this is an important month which offers the chance for us all to remember how crucial oral health is. Moreover, as part of this month, there is a week dedicated to dental hygienists. Having this month is very important, and helps to raise awareness of oral health.
April is a very important month in oral healthcare in Canada. This is because this month marks Oral Health Month in Canada [1]. This month is used by dentists to remind patients of the importance of oral health.
Moreover, as part of the month, the first week is dedicated to dental hygienists, with the week of April 4th to April 10th offering a chance to celebrate dental hygienists – who play a crucial role in oral health.
Having this month is important. While strong oral health is something we should strive for year-round, having a specific month to focus on this subject is helpful.
Oral Health Month
Oral Health Month in Canada is supported by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) [1]. This is an organization of over 30,000 dental hygienists across Canada [1].
Oral Health Month has been celebrated for the last few years in Canada. While oral health is generally strong in Canada, there is always room for improvement.
The theme is “Oral Health for Total Health” [1]. The intention of this is to remind us all that our oral health and physical health are closely linked together.
This is backed up by research, with oral health linked to many physical health conditions [2]. For example, these include Alzheimer’s Disease, Cardiovascular conditions and Diabetes.
Therefore, by having strong oral health, it can benefit our physical health too. This emphasizes the importance of having good dental health!
Dental Hygienists
As mentioned, the first week of Oral Health Month is dedicated to dental hygienists [1]. Dental hygienists are a crucial part of the oral health industry.
Dental hygienists typically work in a variety of settings, and help patients from a range of ages. For example, scaling, root planing, dental sealants and oral health screenings are all common services offered. They are able to supplement the work completed by dentists.
The President of the CDHA, Francine Trudeau, has spoken of the benefits of seeing a dental hygienist. Trudeau says that dental hygienists offer support, and are able to see “first-hand how good oral health benefits both your physical and mental well-being” [1].
Therefore, they can offer accurate information and personalized support for patients. Seeing a hygienist in addition to a dentist can be an excellent combination.
The hope is that having a week dedicated to dental hygienists can help to raise awareness of their vital role in oral health. It could also lead to more people seeking appointments with a dental hygienist.
What can you do to take part?
This month offers an opportunity for everyone to take a look at their oral health and see how they could improve their personal situation.
For example, this may be through trying to eat healthier, brushing teeth more, flossing consistently, or trying to get rid of bad habits like smoking.
Something else that we can all aim for is to attend dental appointments regularly. This is an excellent way of helping your oral health to be strong.
Everyone has a different situation with oral health, but there is room for improvement for all of us. Therefore, this month offers an excellent opportunity to focus on how your oral health is.
In keeping with the aforementioned theme, we all need to remember that our oral health affects the rest of our health. This is something we should appreciate not just during April, but year-round.
Thinking points…
1) With it being Oral Health Month, this presents a great chance to analyze your oral health. As mentioned above, there are a few different things that you can do – mainly around improving your oral hygiene. An excellent thing to do is to attend dental appointments regularly, as this will allow a dentist to take a look at your oral health and provide advice. We recommend booking an appointment now!
2) As part of Oral Health Month, why not take this as an opportunity to discuss oral health with your family and friends? You can start a conversation about its importance, and have a discussion about ways of improving your oral health. This is especially useful if you have children! We recommend having a conversation, or perhaps sharing this post on social media for others to see!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign[TM]! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. (2024). April Celebrates Oral Health for Total Health and National Dental Hygienists Week. Available: https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/news/april-celebrates-oral-health-for-total-health-and-national-dental-hygienists-week-1003978173/. Last accessed: 5th April 2024.
[2] Li, X., Kolltveit, K. M., Tronstad, L., & Olsen, I. (2000). Systemic Diseases Caused by Oral Infection. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 13 (4): p547-558. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128%2Fcmr.13.4.547-558.2000.
