Celebrating Oral Health Month: Empowering Hygienists to Lead the Way

June is Oral Health Month—a time to spotlight the importance of oral hygiene and celebrate the impact dental professionals have on overall health. As dental hygienists, we are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in education, prevention, and advocacy. This month offers a powerful opportunity to elevate our message and connect more deeply with our patients and communities.

Why Oral Health Month Matters

Oral health is about more than clean teeth—it’s directly connected to systemic health. From cardiovascular disease to diabetes, the links are well established. Yet many patients still underestimate the importance of routine hygiene care and preventive practices.

Oral Health Month gives us a platform to:

Reinforce the connection between oral and overall health

Educate patients on preventive care

Encourage regular dental visits

Advocate for better access to dental care

How Hygienists Can Take the Lead

As trusted providers, hygienists can make a lasting impact during this awareness month. Here are a few ways to engage:

1. Start Conversations in the Op

Use June to go beyond the basics. Educate patients about:

The role of oral bacteria in inflammation

How oral health affects chronic conditions

The importance of home care habits (tailored to their lifestyle)

2. Share Knowledge Online

If your office has social media, contribute to content that highlights:

Daily oral hygiene tips

Myths vs. facts about dental health

Quick videos showing proper brushing and flossing techniques

3. Celebrate Your Team

Use this time to recognize the hard work of your fellow hygienists. A simple shoutout or appreciation post goes a long way in boosting morale.

Closing Thoughts

Oral Health Month isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action. Hygienists are frontline educators, motivators, and advocates for healthier smiles and healthier lives. This June, let’s amplify our voice and show just how essential our role is in shaping public health.

Tools & Resources:

1. American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA)

Offers downloadable posters, social media graphics, and outreach ideas for hygienists.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Division of Oral Health

Provides comprehensive data on oral health and its connection to systemic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory illness.

3. U.S. Surgeon General’s Reports on Oral Health

Includes evidence-based summaries on the relationship between oral and overall health.

4. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Offers patient-friendly educational tools and infographics.

5. Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH)

Peer-reviewed journal that shares clinical research and best practices for hygienists.

Here Is What They Are Saying

"Dental Education Partners delivered training for our team that isn't offered anywhere else. Their training has dramatically changed our teams ability to influence treatment acceptance. I would recommend their services to any office looking to increase profitability!"

"DEP has been a great partner! Their industry insight and metrics analysis help guide our clinical direction and training decisions. Mary Hughes has trained our DSO out of Las Vegas multiple times and we cannot say enough about her and the way she interacts with our team! Mary uses humor and her knowledge of the dental field to relate to her professional audience (dentists/hygienists). She builds trust and excels in the art of teaching when it comes to soft tissue management, dental related sales, and more. I would recommend Mary for any training available. She is one of the top dental speakers/trainers in the field hands down!”

“Mary makes everything seem so easy and attainable. She breaks things into concise actionable steps. When we began using Mary’s hygiene protocols we saw an immediate increase in our hygiene production. She did an amazing job guiding our staff, getting them to understand and endorse the refinements to our procedures so that our patients could receive the best care possible. By being focused on the objectives, we accomplished more in the same amount of time. Mary has been providing us guidance for the overall profitability and efficiency of my network of practices. She continues to help keep us focused on our big picture goals to drive our growth.”

“Dental Education Partners (DEP) helped increase my hygiene from $800 to over $1,800 per day. But the kicker was they didn't just focus on my hygienist, they focused on the whole team and we all got better. I currently have five dental offices and have had over 15 offices in as many years. I have worked with countless dental consultants and can unequivocally say they are the best I have ever come across. Stephanie is the most organized person I have ever worked with. Plus, she is very kind and knowledgeable. Mary's training skills and how she interacts with patients and staff is second to none. I just started to work with Julie and she's just awesome at everything she does (scheduling, working with staff, etc.). If I could, I would bring them all on as partners and we would conquer the dental world.”

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