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.
Smiles. When our children smile at us, the world gets a little bit brighter, the gloom seems a little less gloomy and our day just gets better. It’s amazing what a smile can do. My kids like to show off their cheesiest smiles when I take their pictures which as a mother and photographer can drive me nuts. But cheesy as they may be, at the end of the day, their smiles truly light up my life.
We’ve made every effort as parents to teach our children to take care of those smiles. Proper brushing, flossing and limiting sugar are a big part of what we teach, as well as having regular dental checkups.
But did you know that even with increased dental care coverage from the ACA and Medicaid, 42% of children 2-11 have untreated cavities?
That 50% of children entering Kindergarten suffer from tooth decay?
Poor dental health can have a profound impact on children in school, affecting everything from school absences to self-esteem.
In an effort to combat this national dental health crisis, 15 dentists came together in 2002 for a one-day dental health event in St. Louis, MO. Together with volunteers, they set up 15 patient chairs to provide free dental care to nearly 400 children in need. This idea took hold with the American Dental Association and Give Kids a Smile was born.
Over the past 15 years, Give Kids a Smile has reached more than 5.5 million underserved children, through more than 1300 events, utilizing over half a million volunteers. When a child attends a GKAS program they receive free oral health services, including education, screening and/or treatment from the GKAS volunteers. It’s truly a way to keep our children smiling.
The GKAS volunteers are already kicking off another year of events to alleviate the silent epidemic of tooth decay and poor childhood oral health… and you can help. Reach out to ADAFoundation.org/GKAS to see what YOU can do. Get involved, help those in need and remember to make good oral health a priority at home.
Because those smiles speak volumes.
Like GKAS on Facebook for more information on how YOU can help!
