BSP takes part in European Gum Health Awareness Day

The British Society of Periodontology (BSP) joined 28 other European societies to support Gum Health Awareness Day that takes place annually on 12 May. Launched by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), the initiative encourages societies to communicate with the public on the importance of healthy gums. This year, an additional 10 societies from the Caribbean and South America also joined the European societies, making it truly global.

The BSP launched a campaign called ‘A Lifetime of Smiling’ aimed at raising awareness of gum health and its implications during pregnancy and childhood. Establishing good oral health habits in childhood will help prevent gum disease in adulthood. To support this, the society produced a series of educational materials aimed at children, parents and carers; dental professionals; and healthcare professionals. This will be supported by social media activity and themed exhibition stands at events attended by the BSP throughout 2018.

“The main aim of our society is to raise awareness of the importance of gum health. We want to engage with the public by producing information which is user friendly and explains the effects of gum disease - not only in the mouth but also on the rest of the body. Gum disease is one of the most common conditions worldwide and bleeding gums are not normal but the disease is treatable when diagnosed early on” explained BSP president, Penny Hodge.

The BSP will continue to promote “A Lifetime of Smiling” throughout the summer. The campaign materials are available to view, download and share on the BSP website: bsp.org.uk.