Designed to raise awareness of the importance of oral health and collect oral care products for at-risk children, the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive will be held this February during National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Kemple Clinic, the America’s ToothFairy affiliate for Central Oregon, will hold an oral care product drive at the Walmart stores in Bend and Redmond for the entire month of February. Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and rinse will be distributed by Kemple Clinic to local at-risk children.
This year, pharmacies are also encouraged to support to the Smile Drive. Westside Pharmacy in Bend and participating Walgreens and Rite-Aid pharmacies are actively involved this month and will be registered in the National Smile Drive Directory, with more pharmacies joining every day. For a current list of participating locations, visit www.kempleclinic.org
Community members donating to the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive are encouraged to share their experience by snapping a photo and using the hashtag #SmileDrive2015 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Suzanne Browning at suzanne@kempleclinic.com or 541-617-1653.
According to Browning, Kemple Clinic’s Executive Director, “This is our second year participating in the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive. It’s a wonderful way to provide tooth tools to the community’s children in need as well as raise awareness about the importance of positive oral health habits and nurturing those healthy habits in kids year round.”
“We are so grateful that caring organizations and individuals across the country are helping ensure children receive the oral care products they need through the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive,” said Fern Ingber, America’s ToothFairy president and CEO.“Their participation in the Smile Drive, combined with engagement from Kemple Clinic, will help promote healthy smiles for all children while providing at-risk youth the tools they need to prevent the pain and embarrassment associated with tooth decay.”
America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundationwas formed in 2006 to eliminate children’s preventable pain and suffering from pediatric dental disease by delivering superior preventive-focused programs and resources that improve quality of life for underserved children. Supporting the delivery of oral health education and care for children of all ages, the America’s ToothFairy Affiliate Network includes dental and allied health professionals, generous corporations, nonprofit community health programs, civic and youth organizations and caring individuals in every state.
Kemple Clinic was founded in 1998 by retired dentist and long-time Bend resident, Dr. H.M. Kemple. Dr. Kemple’s mission was to eliminate pediatric oral disease. To this day, Kemple Clinic strives to support that mission by providing free, high quality, on-site and offsite dental screenings and preventative education needed to promote the oral health and overall well-being of children in our community. Kemple also offers on-site hygiene appointments (cleanings, x-rays, risk assessments) at the clinic facility for underserved children in Central Oregon. If, upon assessment, acute dental treatments are necessary, Kemple Clinic works with more than 70 volunteer dentists in Central Oregon to deliver these urgent and critical dental treatment services to qualified children in Central Oregon.
www.kempleclinic.org
America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of pediatric dental disease, one of the most prevalent chronic, untreated diseases in children, facilitating the delivery of comprehensive oral health services and eliminating this preventable disease from future generations. With a growing Affiliate network of exemplary non-profit community programs, Kids Club, professional and student service programs, America’s ToothFairy is building a powerful, united effort to eliminate tooth decay and protect the smiles of vulnerable children. For more information, please visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org
