Teachers representing more than 117,000 students responded to our advertised offer for free toothbrushes, in a joint effort with Smile Kentucky! The back cover of the Spring Reader asked teachers to register for our Online Teacher Guide and tell us how many students in their schools needed new toothbrushes and tooth paste. The response was overwhelming! From 742 schools we serve, more than 600 teachers registered for the Teacher Guide and toothbrushes. We are working to meet this incredible need. Contact us today (502-222-8017) if you can donate to be sure every Kentucky K-3 student has a new toothbrush when school starts in the fall. Smile Kentucky! tackles the most common disease affecting U.S. children, dental decay. Smile Kentucky! is a unique community partnership to provide dental education and free dental care to children at elementary schools in Louisville Metro and surrounding counties. Smile Kentucky! complements an effort by the American Dental Association (ADA). The ADA has called the program a model for community service.

According to their website, Smile Kentucky! hopes to bring attention to what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a “silent epidemic” of oral disease affecting children from low-income families. The Surgeon General’s 2000 report found dental decay is the most common disease affecting U.S. children, occurring at five times the rate of asthma and seven times that of hay fever.

A recent Kentucky study found 29% of school children examined in the 3rd and 6th grades had visible dental decay; another 20% said they’d had a toothache in the past month. Oral health problems can affect a child’s overall health including speech, eating patterns and concentrating in school.

Smile Kentucky! originated in 2002 from an existing partnership between Louisville Water Company, the Louisville Dental Society and the UofL School of Dentistry. The group wanted to make an impact on the health of the community’s children. The funding for Smile Kentucky! comes from its steering committee and grants. For example, Colgate donates 17,000 toothbrushes and toothpaste. Louisville Water Company donates 17,000 reusable Pure Tap® water bottles and curriculums for teachers. Sullivan Schein Dental donates supplies to screen 5,000 children and treatment for another 400. The UofL School of Dentistry hosts Smile Kentucky!Treatment Day in their clinics. In all over 600 volunteers make the program work - - from employees, dental students, TARC, local school systems, and dental supply companies. Smile Kentucky! complements an effort by the American Dental Association to provide care to underserved children.