Give Kids a Smile Day - February 4

The Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program, launched nationally in 2003 by the American Dental Association, provides underserved children with free oral health care. This is an opportunity for kids who can’t usually afford to see a dentist receive 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.

Each year, approximately 7,000 dentists and 3,000 dental team members volunteer at Give Kids A Smile events in their communities to provide free oral health education, dental screenings, and treatment to about 300,000 children. To date, over 6 million underserved children have received free oral health services through Give Kids A Smile. 

History of Give Kids a Smile

In 2002, Drs. Jeff Dalin and B. Ray Storm held the first Give Kids A Smile event in a run-down, soon-to-be-demolished dental clinic in St. Louis, where 15 patient chairs were scraped together to deliver free dental care to nearly 400 children.

The ADA recognized that this grassroots effort had great potential to raise awareness nationally about the importance of oral health to overall health, and about the staggering need that exists among millions of children who go without care. So, in 2003, Give Kids A Smile evolved into a nationwide program with the goal of providing free oral health care to underserved children.

Children's Oral Health

Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.

• About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
• 1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
• Children aged 5 to 19 years from low-income families are twice as likely (25%) to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households (11%).

The good news is that cavities are preventable. Fluoride varnish can prevent about one-third (33%) of cavities in the primary (baby) teeth. Children living in communities with fluoridated tap water have fewer cavities than children whose water is not fluoridated. Similarly, children who brush daily with fluoride toothpaste will have fewer cavities. 

Dental sealants can also prevent cavities for many years. Applying dental sealants to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth prevent 80% of cavities.

What Parents and Caregivers Can Do

For children younger than 2, consult first with your doctor or dentist regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste.

• Wipe gums twice a day with a soft, clean cloth in the morning after the first feeding and right before bed to wipe away bacteria and sugars that can cause cavities.
• When teeth come in, start brushing twice a day with a soft, small-bristled toothbrush and plain water.
• Visit the dentist by your baby’s first birthday to spot signs of problems early.
• Talk to your dentist or doctor about putting fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.

For children older than two:

• Brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Drink tap water that contains fluoride.
• Ask your child’s dentist to apply dental sealants when appropriate

If your child is younger than 6, watch them brush. Make sure they use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallow. Help your child brush until they have good brushing skills.

To see if your community’s water is fluoridated, you can view your water system on CDC’s My Water’s Fluoride website. You can also call your water utility company and request a copy of the utility’s most recent “Consumer Confidence Report.” This report provides information on the level of fluoride in your drinking (tap) water.

If your drinking water does not have enough fluoride to prevent cavities (the optimal amount of 0.7 milligrams per Liter), ask your dentist, pediatrician, family doctor, or nurse if your child needs oral fluoride supplements, such as drops, tablets, or lozenges.

Risk Factors for Cavities

Your child’s chance of getting cavities can be higher if:

• Family members (older brothers, sisters, or parents) have cavities.
• They eat and drink a lot of sugary foods and drinks, like soda, especially between meals.
• They have special health care needs.
• They wear braces or orthodontics or oral appliances.
• If any of these apply to your child, be sure to talk with your dentist, pediatrician, or family doctor to make sure you are taking extra steps to protect your child’s teeth.

Dental Practitioner Planning an Event?

Hosting a Give Kids A Smile event? Refer to this guide by the ADA to take you from beginning to end. Get promotional materials, legal forms, clinical forms, and more.

Give Kids A Smile Toolkit

Sources:

https://www.ada.org/resources/community-initiatives/give-kids-a-smile/about-give-kids-a-smile

https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/childrens-oral-health/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6541e1.htm?s_cid=mm6541e1_w