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MCC Daily Tribune

Give Kids A Smile

The first Friday of February is when we turn those frowns upside down and begin the Give Kids A Smile program. The initiative, created by the American Dentist Association (ADA), is an opportunity for kids who can’t normally afford to see a dentist to get some free dental care. Dentists, as well as dental hygienists, assistants, and other volunteers, use their time and talents to ensure that children are given the dental care they need and deserve all across the country.

HOW TO OBSERVE GIVE KIDS A SMILE

  1. Become a volunteer

    Search the GKAS website or call the hotline to find volunteer opportunities in your community around Give Kids A Smile events. With the thousands of dental teams that are always welcoming volunteers, your help can make a huge difference in a child’s life.

  2. Social media

    Post GKAS photos, stories, and messages to share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag.

  3. Share logos

    Celebrate Give Kids A Smile by printing out and sharing the logo with your friends and family to create awareness around the national events. Logos can be found on the GKAS Facebook page.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT GIVE KIDS A SMILE

  1. It’s a huge success

    Since its national launch in 2003, more than 5.5 million children have received free oral health services through Give Kids A Smile.

  2. Holiday month

    February is just a celebratory month! Just as Give Kids A Smile begins on the first Friday of February it turns out February is also the ADA’s National Children’s Dental Health Month.

  3. It’s worldly known

    Give Kids A Smile is one of the world’s largest oral health charitable programs.

  4. First held event

    The first GKAS event was held in a run-down soon-to-be-demolished dental clinic, where only 15 patient chairs were available for nearly 400 children.

  5. Oral health matters

    According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cavities are the most prevalent infectious disease in children in the U.S. More than 40% of infants and preschoolers are affected by the time they’re in kindergarten and about half of all children from lower-income families.

WHY WE LOVE GIVE KIDS A SMILE

  1. Oral health is important

    Everyone deserves to have access to oral health. Imagine if you were a child who couldn’t brush your teeth every day or if you had a never-ending aching toothache because of a cavity. How much would it hurt to not be able to do anything about it? Everyone, especially children, deserves access to dental care and dental health.

  2. It takes a village

    Without the countless number of dentists as well as their teams and volunteers dedicating their effort and time to this event, Give Kids A Smile would not be possible.

  3. Kids matter

    Dental care is the most unmet health need among American children. A child should not have to suffer at the hands of their family not being able to afford dental care; it is important to provide access to dental services to children in need.

Give Kids A Smile - National Today

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
02/03/2023