In celebration of National Dental Hygiene Month this October, America’s ToothFairy invites dental professionals across the country to participate in its third annual My Smile Matters campaign. Since its launch in 2022, the initiative has raised awareness about the critical role of oral health in overall well-being and the pivotal contributions dental hygienists make to children’s health and success in life.
“Many parents still view tooth decay as an unavoidable part of childhood,” said Jill Malmgren, executive director of America’s ToothFairy. “Through this campaign, we’re striving to change that perception by educating families about the profound influence a healthy smile can have on both physical health and lifelong success.”
The impact of the campaign has grown each year, reaching just over 100,000 people in 2022 and nearly 170,000 in 2023 through the educational materials available at MySmileMatters.org. The 2024 My Smile Matters campaign is sponsored by Darby Dental Supply and includes several engaging activities to help spread the message about dental hygiene.
These include:
- An opportunity to nominate outstanding dental hygienists for national recognition and prizes.
- A dynamic social media toolkit featuring 25 pre-designed posts and vibrant graphics to help professionals raise awareness.
- A contest that encourages the public to share on social media the many reasons why healthy smiles matter to them.
- Limited-edition campaign t-shirts to be worn throughout the month.
- The My Smile Matters Challenge, encouraging participants to provide toothbrushes and oral health materials to underserved children.
- Free, downloadable educational resources to promote oral health in schools and communities.
Visit MySmileMatters.org to sign up for campaign updates and access these free resources.
“This year’s campaign is one of our biggest efforts to date,” Malmgren added. “We’re thrilled to see dental professionals and educators nationwide already embracing the campaign by downloading resources and preparing for the October 1st launch. We’re continuing to expand our offerings and add new resources throughout the month.”
Join the movement today! Visit MySmileMatters.org to learn more, receive notifications, and access free educational materials.
About America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation
As a resource provider, America’s ToothFairy increases access to oral health care by supporting nonprofit clinics and community partners delivering education, prevention, and treatment services for underserved children. Since 2006, America’s ToothFairy has reached 16 million children and caregivers with oral health services and distributed millions in donated products, educational materials, and financial grants to improve oral health outcomes for children and youth in need.
For more information, visit AmericasToothFairy.org.
