Oral Health Foundation

11/06/2026

During its 50-year history, Smile Month has been a cornerstone of prevention and oral health promotion. Here are just a few snapshots from the last five decades. Now let's look forward to the next 50 years!

10/06/2026

This evening, we were proud to host a webinar shining a spotlight on the barriers many people born with a cleft face when accessing dental care.

A huge thank you to NHS South West, Cleft Lip and Palate Action - CLAPA, Professor Peter Mossey, Elizabeth Shick, and the patients who bravely shared their personal experiences. Their insights highlighted the real-life impact of the challenges facing the cleft community.

What we now know is that people born with a cleft are twice as likely to face difficulties accessing dental care, while many report inadequate care, affordability barriers and a lack of professional understanding.

The Oral Health Foundation is proud to support CLAPA's campaign and open letter calling for better access, improved training, joined-up care and greater accountability.

Please add your voice: https://clapa.com/how-you-can-help/campaigns/cleftdentalcrisis

10/06/2026

A huge thank you to our trustee and dentist, Ben Atkins, who has spent the morning speaking to dozens of radio stations across the UK, helping to share the findings from our latest research with mydentist.

The interviews have reached millions of listeners, highlighting some worrying trends in how we care for our mouths – from ignoring tooth pain and skipping brushing before bed, to turning to Google and AI for dental advice instead of seeking professional support.

Ben's message has been simple and positive: people do care about their oral health, but busy lives can make healthy habits difficult to maintain. Small changes, such as brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth daily and seeking advice early when something doesn't feel right, can make a huge difference.

As Ben has been reminding listeners throughout the morning: your mouth is part of your overall health, and looking after it doesn't need to be complicated.

Read the full findings from our research with mydentist here: https://www.dentalhealth.org/new-research-reveals-the-everyday-impact-of-oral-health-sugar-and-self-confidence

05/06/2026

Today is the last day for entries into our Nominate A Smile competition. Send in your community hero stories today!

Don't miss your chance to celebrate your community hero, you have until Friday 5th to send us your entries!

Visit www.dentalhealth.org/nominateasmile for more information.

05/06/2026

Want a voucher for free? 👀

Visit www.dentalhealth.org/smile50 to take part.

03/06/2026

Want a toothpaste voucher for free? 👀

Our sponsor Oral B are giving away a free toothpaste voucher to anyone who sends us a smiley selfie. Visit www.dentalhealth.org/smile50 to take part.

21/05/2026

It’s Cleft Awareness Week. People born with a cleft lip or palate can face unique oral health challenges throughout their lives, from difficulties cleaning teeth to a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Good oral health support can make a huge difference to confidence, comfort, speech, and overall wellbeing.

We’re proud to be collaborating with Cleft Lip and Palate Action - CLAPA on a free webinar exploring the importance of inclusive, patient-centred dental care for people affected by cleft. The session will help challenge misconceptions around cleft care and support dental teams to better understand the oral health needs of cleft patients.

Learn more about cleft lip and palate and the support available from Cleft Lip and Palate Action - CLAPA

21/05/2026

We have been sent this gorgeous smile wall from Ashton View Care Home as part of our activity. Look at all those beautiful smiles!

If you want to contribute to our Smile Wall, just visit https://www.dentalhealth.org/smile50

21/05/2026

Oral health is an issue that impacts us all. This Global Accessibility Day, let's embrace inclusivity, break down barriers, and ensure every voice is heard in caring for our oral health. Together, we create a brighter, healthier future. 🎉🌍

19/05/2026

From pumice and honey to soot and salt, we've been using pastes made from different things in our environments to clean our teeth for millennia. Learn all about how far toothpaste has come in the latest episode of our podcast.

Listen to The History of Toothpaste from The Oral Health Podcast. From pumice and honey to soot and salt, we've been using pastes made from different things in our environments to clean our teeth for millennia. Learn all about how far toothpaste has come in the latest episode of our podcast.