National Dental Hygienists Week™ (NDHW™) takes place on April 4‒10, 2023, as part of Oral Health Month in Canada. This week emphasizes, “Oral Health for Total Health”.
This year, registered dental hygienists (RDHs) may implement initiatives for National Oral Health Month and National Dental Hygienists Week™ (NDHW™) activities in-person or virtually. Over the past three years, dental hygienists have found new, creative ways to deliver oral health initiatives to Nova Scotians. An example of this is, instead of in-person presentations, dental hygienists have been using virtual platforms to speak to groups on oral health. During National Oral Health Month, Nova Scotia's dental hygienists will also use their social media platforms to spread the message of ‘Oral Health for Total Health’.
Establishing or maintaining good oral home care regimens is important at all times. Taking care of your mouth, teeth, and gums benefits your overall physical and mental well-being. The mouth is part of the body and that poor oral health can affect many aspects of your quality of life —oral pain, missing teeth, or oral infections can influence the way you speak, eat, or socialize within your community. These oral health problems can also affect your physical, mental, and social well-being.
Let your dental hygienist work with you to improve your oral health and overall health. Dental hygienists are oral health experts and primary health care providers. They continue to be advocates for your oral health and your overall health.
During April 2023, the CDHNS will launch one new initiative, and one repeat initiative, as part of the CDHNS’s commitment to reach all Nova Scotians to get out the messages that (1) oral health is important to overall health, and (2) dental hygienists are an integral partner in helping Nova Scotians achieve oral health. These will be identified closer to National Oral Health Month. Below are the 2022 initiatives.
CDHNS 2022 Initiatives
1. Commercial: In 2021, the CDHNS developed a short 30-second commercial to highlight dental hygiene practice from a regulatory standpoint. The focus was on ensuring the public receives safe, ethical, and compassionate oral health care from Nova Scotia registered dental hygienists. It was broadcast on CTV channels across the province during the week of April 19-25, 2021. The commercial is also embedded at the top of this page. You may access it directly via YouTube as well. We are encouraging all RDHs to disseminate this commercial in 2022 through their social media once again.
2. Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Information Brochure for clients: The CDHNS partnered with Leslie Kenwell, RDH, in creating a brochure on silver diamine fluoride (SDF). This brochure will be a useful tool to help educate clients on SDF. The CDHNS has a limited number of printed copies available for dental hygienists. If you are interested in obtaining some brochures to distribute to clients in your practice setting, please submit your request to the CDHNS via email to Kelly Hurlburt @ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can access an electronic version of this brochure by following these links - EN and FR.
