October is Dental Hygiene Month, making it an ideal time to remind your patients about essential hygiene tips and schedule their next dental checkup. We’re bringing you some great ideas to make the most of your Dental Hygiene Month, along with how-tos for incorporating several other notable days throughout October into your celebrations. It’s an exciting month, and we’re here to help you make the most of it!
October Has Plenty of Days to Celebrate
There are plenty of opportunities throughout the month of October for your practice to incorporate the importance of dental health. These can be a great way to talk about dental hygiene without the topic feeling dry or boring.
Starting the month off, on October 1st, is International Coffee day. This can be a good time to remind patients that it’s good to be aware of the negative dental side effects that come with consuming America’s favorite beverage. Once again, moderation is key, but it’s also a good opportunity to promote teeth whitening services your office may offer.
In the same week, on October 3rd, is World Smile Day which is devoted to smiles and spreading random acts of kindness. You can invite patients to share smile photos and stories on your social media accounts or display a wall of photos in the office. It’s good to celebrate healthy smiles too!
The following week, on October 10th, is World Mental Health day. While on the surface it may not seem like it’s related to the field of Dentistry, as any dental practice knows, mental health can have a huge impact on dental hygiene. This is a good chance to open up a discussion online or in-person with your patients about the relationship between mental health and dental health.
Don’t Forget about Halloween
We all know that October’s claim to fame is Halloween, which means candy and lots of it. While that may seem particularly spooky to dental offices, it’s a great chance to have fun and educate patients at the same time. It’s good to remind patients that moderation and healthy habits are key to combating the dreaded cavity.
Have patients look forward to visiting your office in October. That’ll not only encourage a positive relationship with patients and their dental hygiene but also help you with filling out your year-end schedule.
You can have the office staff dress up in costume. Who wouldn’t want to have a perio exam done by Frankenstein’s monster? Indulge in the Halloween nostalgia and put on classic family friendly Halloween movies in your waiting room or treatment rooms. Join in on the local trick-or-treating scene by providing non-candy treats like plaque disclosing tablets in fun Halloween colors! Host a “spooky smiles” Halloween costume contest for patients to participate in online or in office.
While Halloween may overshadow many other observances during October, there are still several other notable days during this month that tie in well with the theme of Dental Hygiene Month. These are great opportunities to bring attention to multiple important causes at once and a chance to engage with your local community.
Get Involved!
Want to really get involved in your local community for Dental Hygiene Month? Try visiting local schools or daycare centers to teach kids about brushing, flossing and healthy eating. Provide dental hygiene kit donations to local food banks. Provide free or discounted screenings at your office or local event space.
No matter how you choose to celebrate Dental Hygiene month, we hope you make the most of it and enjoy it. If you want to get the most out of Open Dental, reach out to our friendly and helpful Support Team with questions.