The Ultimate Guide to National Dental Holidays (and How to Celebrate Them All Year Long)

Looking for fun, creative ways to boost morale, connect with patients, and energize your dental team throughout the year?

National dental holidays are the perfect opportunity! Whether it’s promoting oral health awareness, showing appreciation for your staff, or simply adding some seasonal flair to your marketing, these themed days and months can help your practice stay top-of-mind in your community. Below, we’ve compiled a month-by-month guide of dental-related holidays you can celebrate with your team and patients—ideal for social media campaigns, in-office decorations, special promotions, and more.

January

• Medical Group Practice Week (4^th week of January)

  • What it is: Celebrates collaboration and excellence in group medical and dental practices.

  • Practice tip: Share a spotlight on your team’s strengths or post fun team bios on social media.

• Prosthodontist Day (January 22)

  • What it is: Recognizes dental specialists who restore smiles with crowns, dentures, and implants.

  • How to celebrate: Feature a patient success story or share fun prosthodontic facts on social.

February

• Children’s Dental Health Month

  • What it is: Promotes lifelong oral hygiene habits in children.

  • How to celebrate: Host a coloring contest or give out kid-friendly dental kits.

• Gum Disease Awareness Month

  • What it is: Highlights the importance of gum health and early detection.

  • How to celebrate: Offer free gum screenings or post quick gum care tips.

• Toothache Day (February 9)

  • What it is: A reminder of the importance of preventing dental pain.

  • How to celebrate: Share a “Stop the Toothache” checklist or encourage early checkups.

• Tooth Fairy Day (February 28)

  • What it is: Celebrates the fun tradition of the Tooth Fairy.

  • How to celebrate: Post a printable Tooth Fairy letter or run a small giveaway for kids.

March

• Dental Assistants Recognition Week (1^st full week in March)

  • What it is: Honors the essential role dental assistants play in patient care.

  • How to celebrate: Treat your assistants to lunch and post a team photo online.

• Employee Appreciation Day (1^st Friday in March)

  • What it is: Recognizes all staff for their dedication and teamwork.

  • How to celebrate: Give thank-you cards, snacks, or fun team awards.

• Dentist Day (March 6)

  • What it is: Celebrates the contributions of dentists to overall health.

  • How to celebrate: Highlight your dentists on social media or share fun facts about your dentist’s journey.

• World Oral Health Day (March 20)

  • What it is: A global awareness day promoting oral health education.

  • How to celebrate: Post oral hygiene tips or run a one-day discount on cleanings.

April

• Dental Hygienist Week (2^nd Week in April)

  • What it is: Recognizes hygienists’ critical role in preventive dental care.

  • How to celebrate: Spotlight your hygienists with personal profiles or patient praise posts.

• National Prosthodontics Awareness Week (April 20-26)

  • What it is: Highlights prosthodontics’ role in restoring oral function and aesthetics.

  • How to celebrate: Educate patients about dentures, implants, or full-mouth reconstructions.

• Oral Cancer Awareness Month

  • What it is: Raises awareness about early detection and risk factors of oral cancer.

  • How to celebrate: Offer complimentary screenings and/or post warning signs patients should know.

• National Oral Medicine and Radiology Day (April 24)

  • What it is: Honors the diagnostic power of dental imaging and pathology.

  • How to celebrate: Share how your office uses technology for better patient outcomes.

May

• Graduation Month

  • What it is: Celebrates dental graduates and new professionals entering the field.

  • How to celebrate: Shout out recent grads on your team or local dental schools.

• Mental Health Awareness Month

  • What it is: Emphasizes mental wellness in healthcare environments.

  • How to celebrate: Share stress-relief tips or host a wellness break for staff.

• Save Your Tooth Month

  • What it is: Highlights the importance of endodontic care and preserving natural teeth.

  • How to celebrate: Share infographics or patient education on how to avoid extractions.

• Root Canal Awareness Week (2^nd Week in May)

  • What it is: Focuses on understanding and promoting root canal therapy.

  • How to celebrate: Debunk myths with a Q&A series on Instagram or Facebook.

• Root Canal Day (2^nd Wednesday of May)

  • What it is: A day to recognize root canal procedures as tooth-saving solutions.

  • How to celebrate: Offer a limited-time consultation or share a case study.

• National Receptionist’s Day (May 12)

  • What it is: Celebrates the friendly faces managing your front desk.

  • How to celebrate: Treat them with a thank-you gift and a spotlight on social media.

June

• Dental Smiles Month

  • What it is: Promotes the value of a healthy, confident smile.

  • How to celebrate: Share “Smile of the Week” patient photos or run a whitening promo.

• Dental Diversity Month

  • What it is: Celebrates inclusion and cultural awareness in dental care.

  • How to celebrate: Highlight and celebrate your team’s diversity.

• Toothbrush Day (June 26)

  • What it is: A reminder to replace toothbrushes regularly and use proper technique.

  • How to celebrate: Give away travel brushes to patients.

July

• Write a Letter of Appreciation Week (July 1-7)

  • What it is: Encourages handwritten notes of appreciation.

  • How to celebrate: Invite your team or patients to write thank-you letters to each other.

August

• Tooth Fairy Day (August 22—yes, it's celebrated twice!)

  • What it is: A fun celebration of a beloved childhood milestone.

  • How to celebrate: Offer a Tooth Fairy certificate or post a fun behind-the-scenes video with your team.

September

• Gum Care Month

  • What it is: Highlights the importance of healthy gums for overall health.

  • How to celebrate: Share daily gum care tips or run a “Healthy Gums Challenge.”

• Office Manager Appreciation Month

  • What it is: Office Manager Appreciation Month recognizes those who keep your practice running smoothly.

  • How to celebrate: Surprise your office manager with a gift or team lunch.

October

• Dental Hygiene Month

  • What it is: Encourages proper brushing, flossing, and regular checkups.

  • How to celebrate: Host a flossing contest or offer a hygiene starter kit giveaway.

• National Orthodontic Health Month

  • What it is: Brings attention to orthodontic care and awareness.

  • How to celebrate: Share before-and-after ortho cases or offer consults.

• World Smile Day (1^st Friday in October)

  • What it is: Celebrates smiles and small acts of kindness.

  • How to celebrate: Host a smile photo booth or ask patients to post their best grins.

• Boss’s Day (October 16)

  • What it is: Honors leadership and mentorship in the workplace.

  • How to celebrate: Create a fun “What I’ve Learned From My Boss” post from staff.

November

• TMJ Awareness Month

  • What it is: Educates about temporomandibular joint disorders and treatment.

  • How to celebrate: Offer TMJ consultations or share tips for jaw relief.

• Mouth Cancer Awareness Month

  • What it is: Brings awareness to oral and oropharyngeal cancers.

  • How to celebrate: Post facts about mouth cancer prevention and detection.

• National Brush Day (November 1)

  • What it is: Reinforces brushing habits after Halloween candy splurges.

  • How to celebrate: Share a “Two-Minute Timer” brushing video for kids and families.

• National Flossing Day (November 28)

  • What it is: Promotes the importance of daily flossing.

  • How to celebrate: Post a flossing how-to or run a floss-themed giveaway.

December

• Hand Washing Awareness Month

  • What it is: Highlights the importance of hand hygiene in preventing illness.

  • How to celebrate: Post a hand-washing tutorial or share behind-the-scenes hygiene practices at your office.

Make Every Month Meaningful

Celebrating national dental holidays is a simple, effective way to bring positive energy into your practice, strengthen team culture, and connect with your patient community. Whether you go all out with themed events or simply post on social media, even small efforts can leave a lasting impression. Use this month-by-month guide as inspiration to plan ahead, get creative, and make each moment in your practice a little more memorable—for your team and your patients alike.