JAMES Hull Dental Care helped to spread the message of good oral health in Crediton by organising an event for National Smile Month.

The month-long campaign, titled "Teeth4Life" and which has just come to an end, focussed on the vital importance of looking after your mouth in order to keep your body healthy.

The dental practice says that significant scientific evidence has proven the systemic links between oral health and overall health, with research clearly linking gum disease to heart disease, diabetes, strokes and premature and low birth weight babies.

At the Crediton High Street James Hull practice, children were encouraged to draw a big smiley face and leave the result for everyone to enjoy.

These were judged by practice staff and the winner was Jessica Sandland (5), who received a big bag of goodies to help keep big smiles going "4Life".

Every patient visiting the hygienist at James Hull during National Smile Month was given a goody bag of dental goodies to help people be proud of their smile.

Dental nurse Kayleigh Hubber led the practice in promoting "Teeth4Life" and came up with the ideas including putting the goody bags together and making the display in the practice waiting room.

This year's National Smile Month maintained the British Dental Health Foundation's key messages: brush twice-a-day with fluoride toothpaste, cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks and visit the dentist regularly as often as they recommend.

Alan Quick