March 6 – National Dentist Day

National Dentist Day is today!

Download the 38 Hertz Celebration Book for 365 days of celebrations!

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL DENTIST DAY STEP-BY-STEP

•  Need a checkup?  Make a dental appointment today!
•  Review this Oral hygiene routine!
•  Consider these tooth whitening products.
•  Purchase a new toothbrush system.
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM ON NATIONAL DENTIST DAY

Dental health is an important part of overall well-being, and that is why dentists play such a vital role. These professionals provide critical preventative care ranging from basic cleanings to the most complex procedures. They are the front line in catching any potential problems from developing and providing solutions to restore dental hygiene.

With regular check-ups and preventive care, dentists can help people maintain healthy teeth, gums, and jaw structures throughout their entire lifetime. By doing so, they can help improve the quality of life not only through having a better smile but also improving overall health and preventing future costly struggles. Therefore, having routine visits with your dentist is incredibly important for your wellbeing.

NATIONAL DENTIST DAY:  THE HISTORY OF DENTISTRY

The history of dentistry can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt, nearly 7,000 years ago – when records show that primitive forms of dental treatments were practiced. Even further back, it’s believed the ancient Chinese, Babylonians and Greeks started brushing their teeth and taking preventive measures when it came to oral hygiene. Throughout time, various cultures have had their own methods of treating common conditions and ailments related to the mouth.

From trading traditional healers in areas like East Africa and South Korea to using natural substances like honey, ginger, pomegranate rinds and lemon juice in parts of India and Pakistan – each culture has its own unique approach to maintaining their dental health. However, professional dentistry didn’t truly take off until the late 18th century with modern advances such as porcelain crowns and fillings becoming commonplace throughout Europe during the 19th century.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL DENTIST DAY

1. Schedule a Dental Checkup: Make an appointment with your dentist for a routine exam and cleaning.
2. Brush Your Teeth for Two Minutes: Ensure you’re brushing for the recommended two minutes, twice a day.
3. Floss Your Teeth: Take the time to floss thoroughly, cleaning between all your teeth.
4. Use Mouthwash: Incorporate mouthwash into your oral hygiene routine for added protection.
5. Teach Kids About Dental Health: Educate children on the importance of brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits.
6. Replace Your Toothbrush: If your toothbrush is older than three months, replace it with a new one.
7. Whiten Your Teeth: Use a whitening product or visit your dentist for a professional teeth whitening treatment.
8. Donate Dental Supplies: Donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss to local shelters or organizations in need.
9. Thank Your Dentist: Send a thank-you note or small gift to show appreciation for your dentist’s care.
10. Eat Tooth-Friendly Foods: Enjoy foods that promote dental health, like apples, carrots, and cheese.
11. Avoid Sugary Snacks: Reduce your intake of sugary snacks and beverages to protect your teeth.
12. Chew Sugar-Free Gum: Chew sugar-free gum to help clean your teeth and freshen your breath.
13. Read a Dental Health Book: Find a book about dental health and read up on ways to improve your oral hygiene.
14. Watch an Educational Video: Watch videos about dental care and share them with friends and family.
15. Organize a Dental Health Fair: Host a dental health fair at a school or community center with informational booths and activities.
16. Create a Dental Care Chart: Make a chart to track your brushing and flossing habits and encourage consistency.
17. Use a Tongue Scraper: Add a tongue scraper to your oral hygiene routine to help remove bacteria.
18. Learn About Dental Careers: Research careers in dentistry and consider if it’s a field you’d like to pursue.
19. Make a Dental Health Poster: Create a poster highlighting the importance of dental hygiene and display it at home or school.
20. Join a Dental Health Challenge: Participate in a month-long dental health challenge to improve your oral care habits.
21. Visit a Dental Museum: If available, visit a museum or exhibit related to the history and science of dentistry.
22. Host a Dental-Themed Party: Throw a party with games, activities, and treats that promote dental health.
23. Write a Blog Post: Share your dental health tips and experiences in a blog post or social media update.
24. Interview a Dentist: Conduct an interview with a dentist to learn more about their work and share their insights.
25. Create a Dental First Aid Kit: Put together a kit with essential items like dental floss, pain relievers, and temporary filling material.
26. Tooth Fairy Treasure Hunt: Hide small dental-themed items around the house for kids to find.
27. Dental Trivia Quiz: Create a quiz with questions about dental health and history.
28. Pin the Tooth on the Mouth: A twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” using a large picture of a mouth.
29. Toothbrush Relay Race: Use toothbrushes to transfer cotton balls in a fun relay race.
30. Flossing Challenge: See who can floss a large model of teeth the fastest.
31. Cavity Tag: A variation of tag where “cavities” try to tag “teeth,” and “dentists” save them.
32. Dental Bingo: Create bingo cards with dental terms and call them out for players to mark.
33. Mouth Guard Memory Game: Match pairs of cards featuring different dental health tools.
34. Toothpaste Art Contest: Create artwork using toothpaste on paper.
35. Build a Tooth Model: Use playdough or clay to create a model of a tooth.
36. Guess the Number of Floss Picks: Fill a jar with floss picks and have players guess the quantity.
37. Dental Health Board Game: Design a board game focused on dental hygiene practices.
38. Toothbrush Painting: Use toothbrushes to create splatter art on canvas or paper.
39. Oral Health Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course with activities like brushing and flossing stations.
40. Dental Charades: Act out dental-related actions or items for others to guess.
41. Toothpaste Taste Test: Blindfold participants and have them guess the flavors of different toothpastes.
42. Tooth Tower Building: Build the tallest tower using sugar cubes and toothpaste as “cement.”
43. Brush the Big Teeth: Use a large toothbrush and an oversized set of teeth for a fun brushing race.
44. Dental Pictionary: Draw dental-related words or phrases for others to guess.
45. Floss Limbo: Use a piece of string or floss for a limbo game.
46. Tooth Toss: Toss rings or bean bags onto large tooth-shaped targets.
47. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Food Sort: Sort toy foods into categories of healthy and unhealthy for teeth.
48. Dental Puppet Show: Create and perform a puppet show about dental health.
49. Tooth Fairy Letter Writing: Write letters to the Tooth Fairy with dental health tips and stories.
50. Gummy Bear Extraction: Use tweezers to extract gummy bears from a bowl of sticky “plaque” (jelly).
51.  Toothbrush Holder: Decorate a jar or container to hold toothbrushes.
52. Tooth Fairy Pillow: Sew a small pillow with a pocket for the Tooth Fairy.
53. Dental Health Poster: Create an informative poster about brushing and flossing.
54. Tooth Necklace: Make a necklace with a tooth-shaped pendant out of clay or beads.
55. Toothbrush Bracelets: Use old toothbrushes to make colorful bracelets by heating and bending them.
56. Tooth Suncatcher: Create a suncatcher using tissue paper and clear contact paper in the shape of a tooth.
57. Dental Journal: Decorate a notebook to track dental visits and healthy habits.
58. Floss Art: Use dental floss to create unique string art designs.
59. Tooth Puppet: Make a tooth-shaped hand puppet using felt and glue.
60. Mouth Model: Build a model of a mouth using clay or playdough.
61. Tooth Bookmark: Craft bookmarks in the shape of a tooth using cardstock and markers.
62. Toothbrush Painting: Paint pictures using toothbrushes for a unique texture.
63. Tooth Headband: Create a fun headband with tooth shapes attached.
64. Dental Tool Play Set: Make pretend dental tools from cardboard and paint.
65. Healthy Teeth Collage: Create a collage with pictures of healthy foods and happy teeth.
66. Tooth Fairy Box: Decorate a small box to store lost teeth for the Tooth Fairy.
67. Floss Bracelets: Make bracelets by braiding dental floss in various colors.
68. Dental Health Calendar: Design a calendar to track daily brushing and flossing.
69. Clay Tooth Magnets: Mold small tooth shapes from clay and attach magnets to the back.
70. Dental Hygiene Chart: Create a chart to check off daily brushing and flossing.
71. Tooth Pillowcase: Decorate a pillowcase with fabric markers and dental-themed designs.
72. Tooth Wind Chime: Craft a wind chime using tooth shapes and beads.
73. Tooth Box: Build and decorate a small wooden box shaped like a tooth.
74. Dental Trivia Cards: Create a set of trivia cards with fun dental facts.
75. Tooth Canvas Art: Paint a tooth design on canvas to hang on the wall.
76. Tooth-Shaped Cookies: Bake cookies in the shape of teeth and decorate with white icing.
77. Fruit Smiles: Arrange slices of apple with peanut butter and mini marshmallows to resemble a smiling mouth.
78. Veggie Teeth: Use cheese sticks and sliced vegetables to create a tooth-shaped snack.
79. Dental Health Smoothie: Blend a green smoothie with spinach, banana, and yogurt to promote healthy teeth.
80. Tooth Cupcakes: Decorate cupcakes with tooth-shaped toppers made from fondant.
81. Cheese Toothpicks: Create mini tooth shapes from cheese and place them on toothpicks.
82. Healthy Smile Sandwiches: Use cookie cutters to make sandwiches in the shape of teeth.
83. Yogurt Parfait: Layer yogurt with fresh berries and granola for a tooth-friendly treat.
84. Brushing Banana Pops: Dip banana halves in yogurt and sprinkle with granola before freezing.
85. Tooth Pasta Salad: Use tooth-shaped pasta and mix with healthy vegetables and a light dressing.
86. Calcium-Rich Pudding: Make a pudding with added calcium for strong teeth.
87. Dental Apple Slices: Core and slice apples, then arrange them to look like a smiling mouth.
88. Tooth-Friendly Granola Bars: Bake granola bars with nuts, oats, and a touch of honey.
89. Smiling Face Pancakes: Create pancakes with fruit arranged to look like a smiling face.
90. Cheese and Grape Smiles: Arrange cheese cubes and grapes to resemble smiling teeth.
91. Calcium-Boost Smoothie Bowls: Make smoothie bowls topped with granola, nuts, and fruits.
92. Tooth Fairy Jello: Prepare tooth-shaped jello molds with sugar-free jello.
93. Veggie Dental Sticks: Slice vegetables into sticks and serve with a healthy dip.
94. Tooth-Shaped Rice Krispies Treats: Shape Rice Krispies treats into teeth and add a little white icing.
95. Brushing Bites: Prepare energy bites with oats, nuts, and a hint of honey.
96. Dental Health Salad: Toss a salad with leafy greens, cheese, and nuts for a crunchy, tooth-friendly meal.
97. Smiling Cheese Quesadillas: Cut quesadillas into the shape of a smile and serve with healthy toppings.
98. Tooth-Friendly Fruit Kabobs: Skewer pieces of fruit and cheese for a fun and healthy snack.
99. Healthy Smile Muffins: Bake muffins with whole grains and hidden vegetables.
100. Calcium-Rich Smoothie Pops: Freeze smoothies with added calcium in popsicle molds for a refreshing treat.

Note:  If the above links do not direct you to the appropriate referral on the first try, return to the article and try again.

Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National Dentist Day?  Please share them!