2018 FALL FOR SMILES Open Your Mouth: Oral Health is Health! Participation Guide
Dear Oral Health Advocate, Thank you for your support and efforts to bring healthy mouths to life. Fall for Smiles is an annual communications campaign that strives to educate communities about the importance of healthy food choices; regular dental visits; brushing, flossing and rinsing as part of a daily routine; and avoiding tobacco. With your help, we are confident that we can raise awareness about oral hygiene habits and their impact on overall wellness. A singular message among partners and supporters will help us realize this goal. This Participation Guide includes resources to help you promote Oral Health America s Fall for Smiles and generate excitement throughout the campaign. Please don t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments about the campaign. Thank you for your support! Best, Cyndi Schu Director of Marketing & Communications cyndi.schu@oha-chi.org (312) 836-9900
Contents Websites & Tools... 1 Important Websites... 1 Connect on Social Media... 1 Social Media Language... 2 Facebook & LinkedIn... 2 Twitter... 3 Instagram... 3 Press Release... 4 Letter to the Editor... 5 Newsletter... 5 Other Ways to Participate... 6
Websites & Tools Oral Health America Fall For Smiles oralhealthamerica.org oralhealthmerica.org/fallforsmiles Connect on Social Media Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram facebook.com/oralhealthamerica twitter.com/smile4health linkedin.com/company/oral-health-america Instagram.com/Smile4Health 1
Social Media Language One way to promote OHA s efforts is through social media. Connecting with your fans and followers helps engage supporters and builds buzz for the initiative. Add a strong call to action to encourage your network to participate in the campaign. Be sure to tag OHA and use #FallForSmiles to join the conversation. We encourage you to use the following content to share important messages about oral health. Facebook & LinkedIn When it comes to maintaining a healthy body, oral health is important too! Tooth decay can be prevented with daily care and education. Join us in supporting @Oral Health America by educating your family and community about the importance of healthy food options, regular visits to the dentist, brushing, rinsing & flossing your teeth, and avoiding tobacco. #FallForSmiles oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles Nutritious foods are a vital part of keeping children s smiles healthy & their teeth strong. Find more oral health tips when you check out @Oral Health America s Fall For Smiles campaign. #FallForSmiles oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles You can positively impact your oral and overall health every day when you practice good oral health and hygiene habits. Check out @Oral Health America s Fall For Smiles campaign. #FallForSmiles oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles Tooth decay is the number 1 chronic childhood disease, and it s totally preventable! Spread the word about the importance of good oral health. oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles #FallForSmiles Tips: To tag Oral Health America and partners in your post, use the @ symbol and begin typing the name. The page will appear in a pull-down window. To share Oral Health America s post on your organization s page or your own network, click Share at the bottom of the post. You will be prompted to share on your timeline or within your network. 2
Twitter twitter.com/smile4health Oral health is connected to overall health. That s why it is especially important to maintain it as you age. #FallforSmiles oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles Autumn is the perfect time to #FallForSmiles! Find out how you can participate in @Smile4Health s education campaign! oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles When it comes to overall health, maintaining your oral health is a reason to smile. #FallForSmiles Nutritious foods are a vital part of keeping kids teeth and bodies strong. Visit oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles for oral health tips. #FallForSmiles Fruit, veggies & cheese help build strong muscles & bones while building healthy teeth & gums. #FallForSmiles Dentists are not only advocates for good oral health; they re champions for overall health too! Learn more at oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles #FallForSmiles Avoid tobacco products for a lifetime of healthy smiles. #FallForSmiles Tooth decay is the number 1 chronic childhood disease. Spread the word about the importance of good oral health. oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles #FallForSmiles Tips: Consider shortening URLs with Google (www.goo.gl) or Tiny URL (www.tinyurl.com). If you are using a social media dashboard like Hootsuite, you can shorten the link there. Be sure to use relevant hashtags such as #oralhealth #oralhealthishealth #backtoschool #family #health #dentist, and of course, #fallforsmiles. Instagram instagram.com/smile4health Use #FallforSmiles to be a part of the online conversation. URLs are not clickable in captions or comments, instead encourage your followers to check out our account. Don t forget to mention or tag Oral Health America in your caption, type @ in front of our username @SmileforHealth. Be creative with your photos. Use filters to enhance your photos. Use cool angles, lighting and other photography tricks whether you hire a photographer or learn a few tricks on your own. Use relevant trending hashtags. Trends on Instagram come and go. If you see a trend and it fits with your message, use it. It will help you become more visible, especially in the Discover feature. Be sure to post your tooth character and use the hashtag #fallforsmiles and tag @Smile4Health! 3
Press Release There are a number of ways to engage with Oral Health America and spread the word about the importance of good oral health. Use the following template to publicize your involvement in the campaign by personalizing the highlighted information. CONTACT: [NAME, PHONE NUMBER, AND EMAIL ADDRESS FOR YOUR OFFICE] Cyndi Schu, cyndi.schu@oha-chi.org, (312) 836-9900 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [YOUR DENTAL OFFICE] SUPPORTS HEALTHY MOUTHS FOR ALL AMERICANS THROUGH [YOUR EFFORTS] Oral Health America Educates and Encourages Americans to Open Their Mouths for Oral Health [YOUR CITY, MONTH, DATE] Going to the doctor for a checkup is second nature to most people, but when it comes to maintaining good oral health, going to the dentist usually takes a backseat. Oral health means much more than healthy teeth. The connection between oral health and overall health can mean a stronger body. Research shows that an unhealthy mouth, especially if you have gum disease, may increase an individual s risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke and poorly controlled diabetes. YOUR DENTAL OFFICE believes a healthy mouth is essential to maintaining good overall health for all Americans and is proud to open our mouths for oral health and participate in Oral Health America s (OHA) Fall for Smiles campaign to spread the message of the important affect that oral health has on overall health. The annual Fall for Smiles campaign encourages Americans to keep a healthy mouth through daily brushing, flossing and rinsing; regular dental visits; a healthy diet and avoiding tobacco products. To spread that message [YOUR OFFICE] is [TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR OFFICE IS DOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMPAIGN, FROM HOSTING AN EDUCATIONAL EVENT TO PROMOTING THE CAMPAIGN ON YOUR WEBSITE. FIND IDEAS FOR HOW TO PARTICIPATE ON THE CAMPAIGN S WEBPAGE.] Oral health is key to overall health and all Americans deserve access to the resources they need to maintain a healthy mouth. That s why we re proud to participate in OHA s Fall for Smiles campaign to educate our community about the importance of preventative care, said [DENTIST/DENTAL PROFESSIONAL]. The campaign s webpage, oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles, features several free resources for dental offices including a tip sheet, interactive quiz, oral health activities and materials to help spread the message of the importance of oral health. [YOUR OFFICE] encourages everyone to Fall for Smiles so Americans of all ages have the healthiest mouths possible. Remember to make an appointment for your regular checkup today! # # # 4
Letter to the Editor A letter to the editor allows you to share what s important to you with your local newspaper. You can also keep an issue going by preventing it from disappearing from the public eye or stimulate the interest of news media and create more coverage for the matters such as oral health. Dear Editor, Going to the doctor for a checkup is second nature to most people, but when it comes to maintaining good oral health, going to the dentist usually takes a backseat. Oral health means much more than healthy teeth. The connection between oral health and overall health can mean a stronger body. Research shows that an unhealthy mouth, especially if you have gum disease, may increase an individual s risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke and poorly controlled diabetes. Oral Health America s Fall for Smiles campaign, which takes place during September and October every year to encourage American s to focus on oral health, includes dental care tips for older adults and children, two of the country s most vulnerable populations when it comes to oral health. This year s theme Open Your Mouth: Oral Health is Health! attempts to spread the word about the negative effects that bad oral health habits can have on your overall health. For these populations and all Americans, preventative care is the key to avoiding more serious dental as well as overall health problems in the future. These tips and additional resources can be found at oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME/ORGANIZATION] Newsletter Newsletters are a great tool to keep your supports informed about your work on an ongoing basis. Below, please find suggested language to share with your newsletter subscribers. You can also use this suggested blurb as part of your newsletter communication. This Fall, join Oral Health America and Open Your Mouth for oral health, with Fall for Smiles. This annual communications campaign strives to educate communities about the importance of healthy food choices, regular dental visits, brushing, rinsing and flossing your teeth, and avoiding tobacco. Download activities, resources and more by visiting oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles. Join us as we Fall for Smiles! 5
Other Ways to Participate in Fall for Smiles There are a number of ways to engage with Oral Health America and spread the word about the importance of good oral health. Engage friends, family, patients and others in dialogue about oral healthcare and overall wellness. Use the campaign booklet as a resource to help guide the conversation. You can download the Fall for Smiles campaign booklet at oralhealthmerica.org/fallforsmiles and share with your family and/or community. Download brushing charts and other activities to print for your patients at oralhealthmerica.org/ fallforsmiles Download our OHA Tooth Character coloring page and encourage your friends, family and patients to enter our Instagram coloring contest. Color, add accessories, and give your character a name. Snap a photo of it and post it to Instagram with #fallforsmiles and tag @Smile4Health by October 1st for a chance to win a gift bag and more! More information about the contest can be found at oralhealthmerica.org/fallforsmiles Hold a Fall for Smiles Dental Office Candy Drive or Brush-a-thon event in your area. More information at oralhealthmerica.org/fallforsmiles Join us for Advocacy Week, October 1 5, an entire week filled with activities to raise your voice about the issues that impact the oral health of your patients and your community. Join Oral Health America on Twitter for a Twitter Chat on October 1 to talk about oral health! 6