At a packed event in the heart of London, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, opened National Smile Month 2025 with a compelling reminder: ‘You can’t have good general health without oral health.’
Speaking on Friday 9 May 2025 to more than 100 health professionals, campaigners, and industry leaders at the Surveyors House, Dr Carter set the tone for a month of nationwide action under the theme Feed Your Smile.
This year’s theme, Feed Your Smile, shines a spotlight on the connection between diet and oral health.
The launch event marks the start of the UK’s biggest oral health awareness campaign, which runs from 12 May to 12 June 2025. Now in its 49th year, National Smile Month aims to unite the dental profession, community partners, and sponsors in promoting better oral health for all. This year’s theme, Feed Your Smile, shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked connection between diet and oral health.
Dr Carter said: ‘National Smile Month is about much more than just raising awareness. It’s about bringing people together – working across the profession and with our trade sponsors to actively promote oral health to communities, patients, and the wider public in meaningful and impactful ways.’
Reflecting on the campaign’s remarkable journey since its beginnings in Birmingham in 1977, Dr Carter shared: ‘Back then, it was widely expected that people would lose most of their teeth by their 40s or 50s. Today, we’ve made enormous strides, thanks to public education and innovations like fluoride toothpaste. But now, we face a new challenge – the diet-driven damage being done to our oral health.’
Dr Carter used the opportunity to draw attention to global progress, including the Oral Health Foundation’s education initiatives in Vietnam and support for the World Health Organisation’s oral health strategy across Europe. ‘We must take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a lasting impact,’ Dr Carter added.
He also highlighted a key concern around infant nutrition: ‘There’s an urgent need to address the problem of unhealthy baby food, which encourages a preference for sugary products at an early age. We must support campaigns that promote healthier options right from the start.’
The event also featured inspiring contributions from a range of speakers leading oral health efforts across the UK and internationally.
Joanne Downs, Advanced Oral Health Practitioner at Kent Community NHS Foundation Trust, shared how her team is putting Feed Your Smile into action across 12 districts. She highlighted the appointment of 401 oral health champions and their work in schools, family hubs, and care homes.
Joanne said: ‘We’re deeply committed to improving children’s dental health in Kent. Through initiatives like our pilot toothbrushing programme, we’re seeing significant positive impacts. By supporting schools and nurseries in our most deprived districts, we’re making sure that children are brushing their teeth daily and developing lifelong healthy habits.’
Kent libraries have become an unlikely but vital partner in the campaign. ‘With over 3 million visits last year, their reach is extraordinary,’ said Joanne. ‘From colouring sheets to Clean Teeth Club certificates, we’re using every opportunity to engage the community.’
National Smile Month is being supported by some of the UK’s most well-known household oral care brands such as Oral-B, Listerine, Sensodyne Pronamel and the Wrigley Oral Care Programme.
As the event drew to a close, Dr Carter encouraged everyone to get behind the campaign: ‘Let’s make the 49th National Smile Month our most impactful yet – and build the momentum as we head towards the golden anniversary next year.’
For more information about supporting National Smile Month, visit www.smilemonth.org.
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