{This post was sponsored by Give Kids A Smile as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.}
I sat down to sift through boxes of family photos and happened upon a beautiful one of a close relative of mine. What struck me about the photo was the fact that despite her beauty, she wasn’t smiling. As I continued to sort through photos, I noticed that she consistently wasn’t smiling in her photos. According to my mother, the young girl was self-conscious about her smile. She grew up in a home where oral care was optional and visits to the dentist infrequent. Fortunately, she met her husband who gave her the gift of a beautiful, healthy smile.
Good Oral Care for a Forever Great Smile
A healthy smile begins in infancy, and even the simple act of wiping a baby’s gums after nursing can begin a lifetime of healthy oral care habits. One of the first things I notice about a person is his/her smile. With half of all children entering kindergarten with tooth decay, the affect on physical, social, and emotional health is significant. Children with untreated tooth decay experience more school absences, lower self-esteem, and have more difficulty paying attention in school. Thankfully, organizations like Give Kids a Smile are working to improve the smiles of undeserved children through education programs targeting oral health.
“Give Kids A Smile Day, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Davie, Fla., February 5, 2016. Photo credit: ADA Foundation.”
The Problem of Tooth Decay in Children
In the US, tooth decay affects 42 percent of children aged 2 to 11 years old making it the number one chronic infectious disease amount children in the US. And despite Medicaid and dental care coverage under the Affordable Care Act, narly 50 percent of minority, underserved and Medicaid recipients also suffer from untreated caries.
How Give Kids a Smile is Working to Improve Oral Care in Children
Give Kids a Smile began as a single, one-day volunteer event in St. Louis, Missouri 15 years ago. A group of dentists gathered to provide free dental care to 400 children on that day. The impact was so substantial, the American Dental Association launched a national program and today, Give Kids a Smile is the largest children’s oral health charitable program in the US. They have reached more than 5.5 million children since that first event in Missouri in 2002. The 500,000 volunteers (including 140,000 dentists), volunteer their time and resources at events across the country where eligible children receive oral health services such as education, screening and treatment.
How You Can Help Improve Oral Care in Children
At nearly 40 years old, I’ve yet to have a single cavity. I owe my healthy smile to my mom, who instilled within me the importance of oral care habits like flossing, brushing and dental screenings. In similar fashion, I’ve worked to teach my children the importance of taking care of their teeth. Together, we visit our family dentist for bi-annual check-ups and spend time each morning and night taking care of our teeth.
- Teach your children to brush their teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, visit the dentist 1-2 times per year, and eat healthy foods
- Donate your time and/or resources
- Thank a dentist you know for volunteering to help kids in need
Does your child need oral health care?
Visit Give Kids a Smile to find a dentist in your area. You can also call 844.490.4527. You can also like their Facebook page for oral care tips and resources.
Give Kids a Smile celebrates their 15th anniversary this year. I encourage you to visit their site for additional information on how they help improve oral care in kids.
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