The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme (WOHP) are proudly partnering for the seventh straight year to celebrate the work dental hygienists do and provide them with a wide range of oral health resources to share with their patients throughout October for National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM2016). NDHM2016 is focused on dental hygienists starting a conversation with their patients about doing the “Daily 4”. This everyday oral health regimen includes brushing teeth twice daily, flossing* daily, rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse and chewing sugar-free gum after eating or drinking when brushing isn’t possible in order to stimulate saliva, which helps to neutralise plaque acids and maintain tooth remineralisation.
“As dental hygiene professionals, it is our responsibility to make connections with our patients,” ADHA President Betty Kabel, RDH, BS said. “Starting the conversation with them about their oral health and their prevention options builds that connection. Incorporating the Daily 4 regimen into that conversation will help develop a patient-centred, individualised routine. ADHA is thankful to the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme for their commitment to support dental hygienists as they improve their patients’ oral and overall health.”
NDHM2016 offers numerous resources and materials to help hygienists start the conversation with their patients about the Daily 4 and what they can do to achieve good oral health. These include the NDHM2016 poster, which was included in the September-October issue of Access magazine; samples and educational materials for community service projects and patient education initiatives; and a free continuing education course that explores the important role saliva plays in preventing oral health issues, which will be available on October 12. Dental hygienists can find all of these valuable resources and more on the NDHM2016 website.
“The Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme is proud to celebrate all that dental hygienists do to brighten smiles every day, and especially during National Dental Hygiene Month,” said Ms. Michelle Green, US Marketing Communications Manager of Wrigley. “We’re fortunate to partner with ADHA to provide resources that support conversations about the Daily 4.”
The Wrigley Company Foundation in partnership with the ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH) will offer community service grants of $2,500 or $5,000 to dental hygienists who are pursuing projects intended to improve their community’s oral health and provide oral health education. More than 80,000 people have received oral care through this ongoing partnership.
ADHA encourages dental hygienists and the public to share their oral healthcare experiences, outreach efforts and thoughts via social media. Hygienists can connect with ADHA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, by including the hashtag #NDHM2016 with submissions.
*ADHA wants to emphasise that starting the conversation is a key aspect of National Dental Hygiene Month. Conversations about the recent news coverage of flossing and the benefits of interdental cleaning are strongly encouraged. Dental hygienists are in the ideal position to discuss, recommend and educate their patients on the interdental cleaning devices that best fit their patients’ oral health needs.
