April is National Oral Health Month™
CDA's National Oral Health Month™ Campaign
Although the mouth is part of the body, we often think of it as something separate. We often ignore bleeding or tender gums, while an irritation or pain elsewhere in the body would mean a trip to the doctor.
Poor oral health can affect a person’s quality of life. Oral pain, missing teeth or oral infections can influence the way a person speaks, eats and socializes. These oral health problems can reduce a person's quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social well-being.
The reality is that oral health problems could be a sign of something serious such as oral cancer. Every year approximately 3,200 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer and 1,050 deaths from oral cancer occur. This devastating disease has a low survival rate because it is often diagnosed very late. With early detection the survival rate of oral cancer can be greatly improved. This means going to your dentist for regular checkups. Your dentist has the training and experience to detect oral cancer early.
Everything that happens in your mouth affects your whole body, which is why it is so important to visit your dentist regularly. Only your dentist has the training, skills and expertise to properly address all your oral health care needs. Regular dental checkups help prevent small problems from getting worse.
As part of a healthy lifestyle and to help reduce the risk of oral disease, follow CDA’s 5 steps to good oral health.
Oral Health Activities and Resources
Fact Sheet and Posters
Activities for Children and Adults
Dentist Questions and Answers
Media Campaign – Newspaper articles
History of National Oral Health Month
Disclaimer: This information is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a dentist. For oral health advice, speak to your dentist. Only your dentist has the training skills and expertise to properly address all your oral health care needs.
1. Fact Sheet and Posters
CDA has created a series of fact sheets and posters to promote the importance of good oral health.
CDA’s crossword image illustrates the message that your dentist is an important part of your overall health. Only your dentist has the training, skills and expertise to spot and treat all your oral health care needs.
When it comes to your oral health, what you can't see can hurt you and CDA's Toothberg image vividly illustrates this message. To help protect your smile, practice good oral health and see your dentist regularly.
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2. Oral Health Activities for Children and Adults
Have fun while learning about oral health using these educational tools, including a dental quiz, a word-find game and activities designed for children.
3. Dentist Questions and Answers
CDA has prepared a list of questions and answers about oral health topics. (PDF 140 KB)
4. Media Campaign – Newspaper articles
To promote the Oral Health — Good for Life,TM message to Canadians, CDA has prepared and circulated the following print articles to various daily, weekly and community newspaper outlets across Canada. You are welcome to reproduce these in your own oral health promotions.
View the articles:
Oral health: an important piece of your overall health
Five steps to good oral health
Put a smile in your body: visit your dentist
Choose the seal on oral care products
More Canadians suffering from dental erosion
Three steps to preventing dental erosion
National Oral Health MonthTM - Get snack smart with your kids
Media Relations Contact Information
To arrange an interview or to obtain more information or story ideas related to oral health and to CDA's National Oral Health Month campaign, contact:
Manager, Communications
Canadian Dental Association
Tel.: (613) 523-1770
Email: media@cda-adc.ca
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5. About National Oral Health Month
National Oral Health Month, also known as Dental Health Month, originated as part of the dental profession's commitment to promote oral health to Canadians.
This commitment is an integral part of the Association's mission and in 1957, CDA adopted a motion to organize a National Dental Health Week. For CDA and its provincial counterparts, National Dental Health Week provided an opportunity to promote oral health to Canadians through targeted educational programs and activities.
In 1973, Canada's then Bureau of Public Information developed plans for a cross-Canada observance of National Dental Health Week during the second week of February. In the 1970's Dental Health Week evolved into Dental Health Month, providing more time and opportunity to plan national, provincial and local activities around oral health education.
In 1977, the month of April replaced February as the designated Dental Health Month. Today, National Oral Health Month is recognized by Health Canada and the health professional community as a national health event.
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) is the national voice for dentistry, dedicated to the advancement and leadership of a unified profession and to the promotion of optimal oral health, an essential component of general health.
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