National Give Kids a Smile Day
Ensuring little ones sport bright smiles by nurturing their toothy grins, it's about fostering habits that keep those pearly whites shining.
Millions of children in the United States go without the oral care and dental care they need each year. When kids go without the dental care they need, they can have trouble sleeping, eating, paying attention in school and, of course, smiling.
National Give Kids a Smile Day is here to put a healthy smile on every kid’s face!
National Give Kids a Smile Day Timeline
1909
First U.S. School Dental Clinic Opens in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York, establishes the first permanent public school dental clinic in the United States, offering free care and preventive services to children.
1945
Community Water Fluoridation Begins in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids becomes the first city in the world to adjust its public water supply to optimal fluoride levels, initiating a program that significantly reduces tooth decay in children.
1947
American Academy of Pedodontics Is Founded
Dentists form the American Academy of Pedodontics, later the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, to advance specialty education and standards for children’s oral health care.
1950
Fluoride Toothpaste Introduced in the United States
The first clinically proven fluoride toothpaste is introduced commercially in the U.S., giving families a powerful home-care tool to prevent cavities in children.
2000
“Oral Health in America” Surgeon General’s Report
The first U.S. Surgeon General’s report on oral health identifies dental caries as the most common chronic disease of childhood and highlights major gaps in access to care.
How to Celebrate National Give Kids a Smile Day
Everyone will be smiling brightly when they implement some of these ideas for celebrating and enjoying National Give Kids a Smile Day:
Host a National Give Kids a Smile Day Event
Schools, churches and community organizations can all help celebrate National Give Kids a Smile Day by hosting an event in a place where kids can be gathered and helped.
The organization offers planning tool boxes for hosts, which includes program guides, waivers, promotions, patient resources, games, activities and more.
Make a Donation to Give Kids a Smile
As a nonprofit organization, Give Kids a Smile is always happy to receive donations to help underwrite the cost of free dental care clinics for children, whether through a personal donation or sponsorship by a business.
Perhaps consider helping out for the National Give Kids a Smile Day by making a tax-deductible donation to the cause.
Perhaps this would be a great time to get involved with a local charity event held by the Give Kids a Smile charity by donating free toothbrushes, dental floss, mouthwash or other dental care supplies to children who need them.
Learn Important Facts About Children’s Dental Care
In appreciation of National Give Kids a Smile Day, consider learning a bit more about the ways that children can be helped with oral and dental care. Here are some to get started:
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Nearly 1 in 5 children between the ages of five and eleven have untreated cavities, which can lead to tooth infections and other serious problems.
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Some kids need fluoride dental treatments from their dentists in order to properly protect their teeth.
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Kids need to start early to learn proper dental hygiene for their teeth. Brushing and flossing is important in removing sugars and bacteria that can turn into plaque and cavities.
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Children should go to the dentist every six months, starting when they begin getting their first tooth, or at one year old, whichever comes first.
Get Your Dentist to Volunteer
Those who want to advocate for National Give Kids a Smile Day might consider mentioning the day to their dentist or dental hygienist.
Perhaps suggest that they might want to volunteer to help out at a Give Kids a Smile Day program by offering their skills, abilities and services. It’s a great way to advocate for and support the events as they help out children in the local community.
Read a Book About Dental Care to Kids
Parents, grandparents, teachers and other important adults in the lives of kids might want to celebrate National Give Kids a Smile Day by reading a book about oral health and dental care to the kids in their lives.
A wide variety of different books for children of all ages have been written to help encourage and motivate kids to take care of their teeth, as well as lowering their fear of visiting the dentist.
Get started by reading one of these kids’ books about dental care to the children in your life, and bring a huge smile to their face:
- The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss (2003). Explore all of the things that teeth can do as they grow, and learn how to keep them in the best shape.
- Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer (2001). Little Critter books have been leading kids through life’s experiences for decades. This little book shares the experience little critter has like going for a checkup, getting an x-ray, having a cavity filled or just getting a teeth cleaning.
- The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan Berenstain (1981). A classic book that continues to encourage children, this one features Mama, Papa, Brother and Sister on a trip to the dentist – including a visit from the Tooth Fairy.
- Daniel Goes to the Dentist by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz (2019). A Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood book, based on the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood character, this is a sweet storybook that is perfect for children who are preparing to visit the dentist for the first time.
Brush Up on the American Dental Association
The American Dental Association has more than 160,000 members and has been on the cutting edge of dental care science and the profession of dentistry for more than 160 years.
The organization advocates for public health by providing access to dental care, gathering data, and offering resources that continue to promote dental health.
National Give Kids a Smile Day has been sponsored by the American Dental Association for two decades.
Members, volunteers, hosts, sponsors and dental team members all work together to make these events happen, helping thousands of children who would otherwise not have the access they need to oral health care and dental services.
History of National Give Kids a Smile Day
National Give Kids a Smile Day was established in 2002 by two dentists in St. Louis, Missouri. This first celebration of the day gathered together fifteen dental chairs to give free dental care to almost 400 children in a dental clinic that was about to be demolished.
From those humble beginnings, the National Give Kids a Smile Day initiatives went national and were sponsored by the American Dental Association.
It is now a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. The purpose of the day and the organization is to give oral health care to children who are underserved and in need of dental care that they otherwise might not receive.
While helpful oral care and dental events can happen all year long, the kickoff event for the year happens on the first Friday in February, which is National Give Kids a Smile Day.
National Give Kids a Smile Day FAQs
How does poor oral health affect a child’s overall health and school performance?
Poor oral health in children is linked with pain, infection, difficulty eating and sleeping, and can lead to missed school days and trouble concentrating in class. U.S. data show that untreated tooth decay is common and contributes to more than 51 million hours of school missed each year for dental problems, which can negatively affect learning and quality of life.
When should a child first see a dentist, and how often are checkups recommended?
Major dental and pediatric organizations recommend that a child have a first dental visit by the time the first tooth appears or no later than age one, with regular checkups about every six months or as advised by the dentist based on the child’s risk for cavities.
Early visits allow professionals to monitor development, provide fluoride, and coach families on home care before problems start.
What are the most important daily oral hygiene steps for young children?
Experts recommend that children’s teeth be brushed twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, using a smear the size of a grain of rice for children under three and a pea-sized amount for ages three to six, with an adult helping or supervising.
Once teeth touch, flossing between them daily is advised, since a toothbrush cannot reach the tight spaces where cavities often begin.
Why are fluoride and dental sealants especially important for kids?
Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and helps reverse early stages of decay, which is why many children benefit from fluoride toothpaste and, when appropriate, professional fluoride varnish treatments.
Dental sealants are thin protective coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth to block out food and bacteria; they have been shown to significantly reduce cavities in children’s permanent molars.
What barriers keep many children from getting needed dental care?
Common barriers include lack of dental insurance, limited providers who accept public insurance, transportation challenges, parents’ inability to take time off work, low oral health literacy, and shortages of dentists in rural or underserved areas.
These factors contribute to higher rates of untreated tooth decay among children from low-income families compared with those from higher-income households.
How do community dental programs help underserved children in practice?
Community dental programs typically partner with schools, clinics, or local organizations to offer free or low-cost services such as exams, cleanings, fluoride varnish, sealants, and referrals for follow-up treatment.
By bringing care and education directly into neighborhoods and schools, they can reach children who might otherwise have no regular dental visits and help connect families to ongoing care.
What can parents do if they cannot afford a private dentist for their child?
Parents who cannot afford private care can explore public insurance programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which cover dental services for eligible children in the United States.
They can also look for community health centers, dental school clinics, and nonprofit or volunteer programs that offer reduced-fee or free pediatric dental services in their area.
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