With NHS dentists hard to find, local people are rightly concerned about their mouth health. But there might be an alternative. In her regular series of columns, Sarah-Joy Lendon, the Bristol-based ‘Virtual Hygienist’, offers tips on how you can take steps yourself to reduce your need to visit the dentist
National Smile Month runs from May 11 to June 11, and whilst many people immediately think about white, straight teeth when they hear the word “smile,” a healthy smile is actually about so much more.
How do you feel about your smile?
For some, smiling feels easy and natural. For others, they may feel self-conscious about their teeth, bad breath, bleeding gums, or changes they’ve noticed as they’ve become older.
But our smile is not simply about how it looks, it reflects our overall health, confidence, wellbeing, and even how we feel within ourselves.
A healthy mouth supports our ability to eat comfortably, speak clearly, laugh freely, and connect with others. And the health of our teeth and gums is closely linked to the health of the rest of the body too.
This is why I often talk about both our inner and outer smile. Looking after our teeth and gums through effective brushing, cleaning between the teeth, healthy lifestyle choices, and regular dental visits is important. But so is looking after ourselves emotionally – managing stress, resting, moving our bodies, and making time for joy.
Perhaps this National Smile Month is an opportunity to think about what helps your smile truly shine — inside and out — and if you’d like support, I’d love to welcome you into The Virtual Hygienist free Facebook group – just use the QR code
Sarah-Joy Lendon
The Virtual Hygienist and Compassionate Coach
