The AAO Board of Trustees approved moving National Orthodontic Health Month (NOHM) from October to March at its August 2026 meeting. National Orthodontic Health Month will not be observed in 2026 as the AAO prepares for the campaign’s relaunch in March 2027.

The change is intended to give NOHM, and AAO members, a stronger opportunity to engage consumers around orthodontic health.

October has become an increasingly crowded month for member practices and public awareness efforts. In addition to Halloween and numerous national observances, the AAO also promotes Bullying Bites during October. With multiple campaigns competing for attention, it has become more difficult for members to fully participate in and amplify each initiative.

Moving NOHM to March will better distribute the AAO’s consumer awareness efforts throughout the year, give both NOHM and Bullying Bites greater visibility, and create more room for member participation and social media engagement.

The 2026 pause will allow the AAO to prepare members and campaign resources for the earlier observance without holding two NOHM campaigns within a short period. Beginning in 2027, March will become the permanent month for National Orthodontic Health Month.

Members can expect additional information and promotional resources ahead of the March 2027 campaign.

This change supports the AAO’s strategic priority to Promote and Defend the Specialty by creating a stronger opportunity to increase public awareness of orthodontic care and reinforce the value of treatment provided by AAO orthodontic specialists.