Dental Health Week (DHW) is the Australian Dental Association's (ADA) major annual oral health campaign. It takes place each year in the first full week of August. In 2022, DHW will run from 1 to 7 August.
The campaign focuses on the importance of taking steps to care for your teeth and gums to help you to keep your teeth and smile for life.
The ADA's main oral health messages and the four key messages of the DHW campaign aim to reinforce the importance of maintaining good oral health to keep your teeth for life.
Campaign messages
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake.
- Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventive care.
It should not be a normal to expect that you will need to have some teeth because of tooth decay or gum disease. After all, you do not expect to lose an arm or leg, so why expect to lose any of your teeth? Australians should expect to keep their teeth for their lifetime and by following the steps listed above, you can reach this goal.
There are multiple ways to get information about oral health during Dental Health Week. If you have not had a recent visit to the dentist, it is a great time to make an appointment. A visit to your dentist for face-to-face advice is the best way to get your questions answered. If you don’t have a regular dentist, check out the ADA’s Find-a-dentist search engine to find an ADA member dentist near you.