February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM), which means it’s the perfect time to reach out to your current and potential pediatric patients, as well as your community, by engaging them through programs, contests, and events specially designed for kids.
The goal of NCDHM is to spread information about the importance of oral health and to provide oral care to all children, particularly those who would otherwise not receive it. As a dental health professional, this is your opportunity to educate and benefit your community, while also creating name recognition and a positive image for you and your practice.
Reaching out to the Community
There are several ways that you can reach out to your community to help spread awareness of NCDHM and the importance of proper oral health care. You can:
- Contact local elementary and preschools to arrange to speak about the importance of oral health. Remember your StarSmilez educational puppet, as well as several toothbrushes to distribute!
- Contact stay-at-home mom organizations, such as MOMS Club or MOPS, and offer to speak to your area’s group and teach the children about good oral hygiene. Let your StarSmilez SmileCare personality, such as Al E. Gator, help you with your presentation, and you’ll be a huge hit!
- Organize a children’s health fair centered on dental health and its effects on our overall health. This can be done at a library or church in a disadvantaged area of town where children may not be receiving proper oral health care. Enlist the help of nonprofit organizations, youth groups, and fraternities or sororities to assist with spreading the word, soliciting sponsors, and volunteering on the day of the event.
Reaching Out to Your Patients
Your patients already know about the importance of dental health care. However, they may not know how closely good oral health is tied to good overall health. Keep them informed, and they will thank you and refer you.
- Email your patients educational information about NCDHM, as well as a checklist of oral health habits that all kids – and adults – should adopt.
- Have dental health information cards at your office that include the DO’s and DON’Ts of good oral hygiene. Add a coupon for a discount on their next visit if they refer a friend to your practice!
- Hang posters in your reception area that show good oral hygiene habits at work.
- Give younger patients coloring sheets showing the tools necessary for proper oral health care.
Reaching Out Online
- Have 28 Facebook posts ready to go for the month of February; post one tip, joke, image or fact every day!
- Use Twitter to engage followers in discussions about good oral health. These also can include facts, photos and jokes. Remember to retweet interesting or timely stories and information, and always use hashtags that pertain to the topic. Still not sure about Twitter? Contact a ShareSmilez expert for help.
- Update your blog a few times during the month with stories, news, photos or other information that relates to NCDHM. Target about 12 posts for February.
If you need help getting started, remember that StarSmilez and ShareSmilez have tools, tips, and more to help you successfully spread the word about NCDHM. With our line of SmileCare personalities and products, as well as our social media automation and patient acquisition tools, we have all the resources you need to reach your local and online communities, as well as your current and future patients.
Need help planning out your NCDHM strategy? Sign up to receive our series of white papers, and we'll send you detailed information to plan out your entire month.