We understand that healthy habits start at home, but National Brush Day presents a unique opportunity for dental offices to reinforce the importance of oral care beyond the chair. Observed on November 1st, National Brush Day is a timely reminder for patients, especially after Halloween, of the significance of consistent brushing routines. This day is not just about encouraging children to brush—it’s a chance for dental professionals to lead community outreach, educate families, and inspire positive, long-lasting oral health habits.
This year, the ADA is introducing an exciting new concept: DentSquad! DentSquad is designed to motivate kids to become oral health superheroes by joining forces with dental professionals in the fight against cavities. You can share DentSquad materials in your office to inspire young patients and help them understand the power of brushing and oral care. Additionally, the ADA is hosting a National Brush Day Contest! Patients (and their parents) can enter by sharing photos or videos of their children brushing for 2 minutes, twice a day. Encourage participation by promoting the contest to your patient base, and offer them a chance to win fun prizes while developing lifelong healthy habits. Contest details and resources can be accessed through the Dental Trade Alliance’s National Brush Day toolkit.
Help promote National Brush Day by encouraging your community and customers to join the #NBDDentSquad! The DTA Foundation has created a variety of downloadable campaign materials that you can download below, including activity sheets, social media graphics, and posters to help raise awareness. Download those assets here.
Why National Brush Day Matters
Tooth decay remains one of the most common chronic conditions in children, yet it’s preventable with good oral hygiene habits (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023). National Brush Day gives us an additional platform to engage with patients about the importance of twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and regular dental check-ups.
By participating in National Brush Day, dental teams can actively promote preventive care while helping to reduce the long-term costs and consequences of untreated tooth decay (CDC, 2023).
Engaging Patients in Your Practice
Dental offices can use National Brush Day as a springboard for patient engagement and education. Here are a few ways your practice can make an impact:
- Promote Brushing with Take-Home Kits: Send patients home with educational materials, toothbrushes, and fluoride toothpaste samples. Pair this with personalized brushing tips during their appointment to make oral hygiene advice more tangible. Leverage materials from the Dental Trade Alliance’s National Brush Day toolkit (Dental Trade Alliance, n.d.) for informative brochures and take-home guides.
- Create Fun Office Contests or Challenges: Set up a “National Brush Day” board in your practice to track patient participation in brushing challenges. Encourage patients to brush for two minutes, twice a day, and consider running social media challenges where patients can share photos or videos of their families brushing together. Use your office’s social media channels to raise awareness and stay connected with your patient community.
- Educate with Visuals and Tools: Demonstrating proper brushing techniques in the office can be incredibly effective. Take advantage of your chairside time to show parents and kids how to brush and floss effectively. Use in-office visuals or apps that patients can access from home to reinforce these techniques. The American Dental Association (ADA) provides valuable resources you can share with patients to ensure they’re well-equipped to maintain a healthy smile (American Dental Association, n.d.).
Partnering with Schools and the Community
Many dental offices successfully expand their influence by partnering with local schools or community groups to promote oral health awareness. Your team can host educational sessions at schools, sponsor dental health booths at local events, or collaborate with parent-teacher organizations to distribute brushing kits and educational resources. National Brush Day serves as a perfect anchor for this type of community outreach, and it can strengthen relationships with families in your area.
Access free resources from the Dental Trade Alliance (n.d.) to help spread awareness in local schools or community programs.
Engage Your Team in the Effort
National Brush Day can be an opportunity for your entire dental team to get involved and create lasting bonds with patients. Consider tasking your hygienists or office staff with heading up special initiatives or campaigns to make the day more interactive. This might include hosting an educational webinar for patients, crafting social media content, or organizing an in-office “Brushing Week” where patients are encouraged to take part in healthy habits.
Encouraging your staff to participate not only boosts morale but also deepens the patient-care relationship, showing that your practice is dedicated to supporting patients’ overall health, even between visits.
Supporting Oral Health Beyond the Chair
While National Brush Day is a key moment to promote healthy brushing habits, the real value lies in turning this awareness into sustained behavior. As a dental professional, you have the unique opportunity to continually reinforce positive oral hygiene practices during each visit. By integrating ongoing education into your regular interactions with patients, you can help ensure that these habits stick year-round.
Whether through chairside education, community involvement, or social media engagement, your practice can use National Brush Day as a catalyst to improve the oral health of your patients—and make a lasting impact on their smiles.
References
American Dental Association. (n.d.). Brush 2min2x. MouthHealthy. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/brush-2min2x
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Children’s oral health. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/childrens-oral-health/index.html
Dental Trade Alliance. (n.d.). National Brush Day toolkit. https://www.dentaltradealliance.org
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (n.d.). Oral health policies & recommendations. https://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies–recommendations/
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