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Give Kids A Smile Provides Free Dental Care For Kids In Need

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.

Does your child need free dental care? Check out Give Kids a Smile! Give Kids a Smile has been around for 15 years and has more than half a million volunteers who give their time and talents to provide oral health services to children. Complimetary services including education, screening, preventive care, and dental treatment for kids who otherwise might not be able to affford them.

“Give Kids A Smile Day, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Davie, Fla., February 5, 2016. Photo credit: ADA Foundation.”

Teeth are something parents worry about every day.  We worry if our kids are brushing their teeth enough.  We worry if they are flossing regularly.  While my kids may have good oral hygiene, I know other kids may not.

Thankfully, my family has access to good dental insurance and a wonderful dentist.  In fact, my daughter struggled with something known as a tooth behind a tooth.  She basically had two rows of front teeth.  Our dentist helped us to understand that sometimes this is normal and that it would eventually resolve on it’s own.  Sure enough, two months later her baby teeth fell out and her two front teeth grew in.

Does your child need free dental care? Check out Give Kids a Smile! Give Kids a Smile has been around for 15 years and has more than half a million volunteers who give their time and talents to provide oral health services to children. Complimetary services including education, screening, preventive care, and dental treatment for kids who otherwise might not be able to affford them.

I believe everyone should have access to regular dental care.  However, despite government programs such as Medicaid and the Affordable Health Care Act, children are still not receiving the type of dental care that they need and deserve.  Tooth decay, also known as a chronic disease, affects 42% of children between the ages of 2 and 11.  Almost 50% of minorities who are underserved (Medicaid recipients) suffer from dental issues that go uncured.  These are staggering statistics.

About Give Kids A Smile

One of my favorite non-profit dental programs for children is called Give Kids a Smile.  Volunteers through Give Kids a Smile step up to give kids the smile they deserve.  Give Kids a Smile has been around for 15 years and has more than half a million volunteers (including dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental technicians, dental office staff, dental students, teachers, parents, school nurses, and many other community health professionals) who give their time and talents to provide oral health services to children.  Complimetary services including education, screening, preventive care, and dental treatment for kids who otherwise might not be able to affford them.

Does your child need free dental care? Check out Give Kids a Smile! Give Kids a Smile has been around for 15 years and has more than half a million volunteers who give their time and talents to provide oral health services to children. Complimetary services including education, screening, preventive care, and dental treatment for kids who otherwise might not be able to affford them.

“Give Kids A Smile Day, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Davie, Fla., February 5, 2016. Photo credit: ADA Foundation.”

What started as a grass roots program in 2002 for 400 children, has now turned into a life changing program for children all over the country.  Through the dedication of volunteers and the support of the American Dental Association, Give Kids a Smile has held over 1,300 events in all 50 states, reaching more than 5.5 million underserved children.

How To Improve Your Child’s Oral Heath

More than half the kids who enter kindergarten stuggle with tooth decay.  You can help prevent this by ensuring that your children brush and floss properly.  Here are some more ideas to help the kids around you have healthy teeth.

  • Use Fluoride toothpaste
  • Visit the dentist often
  • Floss once a day
Does your child need free dental care? Check out Give Kids a Smile! Give Kids a Smile has been around for 15 years and has more than half a million volunteers who give their time and talents to provide oral health services to children. Complimetary services including education, screening, preventive care, and dental treatment for kids who otherwise might not be able to affford them.

“Give Kids A Smile Day, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Davie, Fla., February 5, 2016. Photo credit: ADA Foundation.”

How To Get Dental Care For Your Children

Do you need further assistance getting dental care for your kids?  Visit ADAFoundation.org/GKAS and click “Find Dental Care for Your Child” for a list of resources. Or, call 1-844-490-GKAS (4527) to see if there is a GKAS program available in your area.

Give Kids a Smile is kicking off another year, which means there is never-ending work to be done.  That’s why GKAS is here to help alleviate the silent epidemic of tooth decay and create awareness about the future of children’s oral health in this country.  Are you interested in supporting such a worthy cause?  Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/GiveKidsASmile.

Felicia Alexander-Branch

Tuesday 28th of February 2017

love the program but none close to my area in texas port arthur

Jilleen

Tuesday 28th of February 2017

I'm sorry.