Photographs of people of different ages brushing and flossing their teeth.

Looking after your mouth, teeth and gums is about more than having a nice smile. It's also important for your physical and mental health at every stage of your life.

During October we are sharing our tips for good mouth care.

The body’s natural defences and good mouth hygiene, brushing and flossing are usually enough to keep bacteria under control.

Without good mouth hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to infections such as tooth decay and gum disease. This can be uncomfortable and costly if you pay for your dental treatment.

Poor oral health will increase your risk of developing other serious health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. It will put you at greater risk of developing pneumonia (inflammation in the lung caused by an infection), especially if you are an older person living in a care home.

A circle containing the words Make Monday Matter.

There is also evidence that it is associated with the development of clinical frailty.

Visit our Love You Mouth page for tips on how to look after your mouth. There’s advice on how to help children develop good habits from a young age and information for carers looking after someone else.

Our Make Monday Matter series is all about making small changes that can benefit your health and wellbeing over time. Looking after your mouth will benefit you in lots of ways.

Read our advice and introduce some new good habits if you need to.

Get involved with our #MakeMondayMatter movement by following our socials including Facebook and Instagram. Tell us how you are getting on to #LoveYourMouth.


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