Gum Disease Awareness Month

Gum Disease Awareness Month is observed during the month of February

Gum Disease Awareness Month in a national and global effort to raise public awareness of gum disease. The awareness program was launched in 2012 by the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry. The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry is a non-profit educational and research center dedicated to providing evidence-based clinical training in advanced laser dentistry therapies. The red and white pinstripe pin recognizes gum disease and this very important yearly observance. Don’t forget to wear your pin during February as a sign that you are committed to educating others about the signs of disease.

The goal of this information-packed month is to continually raise knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of gum disease. It is also to raise awareness of the consequences of untreated disease. Further, it is a time to encourage patients to take an active role in better oral health through prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Ways to Raise Awareness About Gum Disease Awareness Month

Online Ways to Raise Awareness

1. Join on social media. An easy way to get involved and support this awareness month is through its dedicated Facebook and Twitter pages. Join the community to get the latest updates and information on gum disease, share posts, or repost on your social media accounts to help spread the word. The official hashtags for Gum Disease Awareness Month are: #FightGumDisease #GumDiseaseAwareness and #GDA2023
www.facebook.com/fightgumdisease
http://www.twitter.com/fightgumdisease
2. Link to the official website, www.fightgumdisease.com
a. Download the official Fight Gum Disease ribbon and place on your website. Use the ribbon as a hyperlink to www.fightgumdisease.com
3. Blog about the prevalence, systemic connections or treatment options on your website
4. Post a banner ad about Gum Disease Awareness month on your website

Professionals – How You Can Raise Awareness

Share information about Gum Disease, including causes, systematic connections and treatment options with your patients.
2. Offer free gum disease screenings for new patients.
3. Share Gum Disease Awareness information with your patients, on your website, etc.
a. Link to the infographics
b. Or use the infographics in electronic patient newsletters.
4. Support efforts to learn about this disease by having each staff member wear a Fight Gum Disease pin during February – or year round!
5. Provide each patient who has completed a gum disease screening a Fight Gum Disease pin.
6. Add a mention to your hold music loop. Previously recorded public service announcements are available on the www.fightgumdisease.com website.
7. Send out a press release about your office.
8. Download your state’s proclamation and frame in your office.

Public Relations and Commitment to the Cause of Gum Disease Awareness

Proclamations aren’t limited to state or national levels! 

Work with local media and your government leaders to support this important and informative awareness month initiative by securing city level proclamations.
a. Have the mayor present the proclamation to your office in a ceremony during February. Contact your elected official’s press secretary to schedule an event and invite your local newspapers to write an article about the event, or send out a press release.
b. Frame and hang these proclamations in your front office.