Give Kids A Smile brightens futures by providing free dental care to underserved children every first Friday in February. This vital initiative, spearheaded by the American Dental Association, mobilizes thousands of dental professionals to offer essential services. Join the movement by volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness about children’s oral health needs.
Want to sponsor Give Kids A Smile? Learn how
Expected Give Kids A Smile Deals
For Give Kids A Smile, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial fundraising and community support. Organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA) partner with dental practices and corporations nationwide to provide free screenings, treatments, and oral health education to underserved children. Companies such as Henry Schein, a leading dental supplier, often contribute products and resources, enabling more children to receive care. Dental insurance providers like Delta Dental may highlight their community outreach programs, while brands like Colgate and Oral-B support with product donations and educational materials. The most impactful ‘deals’ are donation-matching campaigns and volunteer recruitment drives, ensuring that every child has access to a healthy smile. We encourage direct support for the ADA Foundation’s Give Kids A Smile program or local participating clinics to make a lasting difference.
Platform Guide for Give Kids A Smile
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #GiveKidsASmile. Share inspiring photos of volunteers in action or educational graphics on children’s oral health.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #GiveKidsASmile. Post about local clinics participating and encourage community members to volunteer or donate.
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Mention @NatlToday and use #GiveKidsASmile. Share quick facts about children’s oral health disparities and the program’s impact.
Give Kids A Smile Hero
Dr. John S. Buchheister
History of Give Kids A Smile
The Give Kids A Smile program was created by the American Dentist Association in 2003. It was a way for dentists to come together with their communities to provide dental services such as oral health, education, screenings, preventive health, and treatment to children in families in the U.S. who cannot afford it.
The event initially started out as a one-day event in February but has since grown into a national event annually. Almost one in four children under five already have cavities and 10 million children under the age of 18 receive no dental care. Give Kids A Smile remains an important part of the ADA’s Action for Dental Health. Their mission is to end any dental health problems in America by providing care to everyone, especially those who need it the most.
Give Kids A Smile timeline
More than 181 million Americans didn’t visit a dentist, according to the ADA.
Give Kids A Smile grew to 30,000 dental team members and 8,000 dentists.
Give Kids A Smile becomes a nationwide program, collaborating with the ADA, Henry Schein, Procter & Gamble, and DEXIS.
Drs. Jeff Dalin and B. Ray Storm held the first-ever Give Kids a Smile event in St. Louis, Missouri.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Give Kids A Smile
Local dental practices are at the heart of Give Kids A Smile. They can open their doors to offer free screenings, cleanings, and basic treatments to underserved children, mobilizing their staff as volunteers. Beyond direct care, businesses can host fundraising events, collect donations for oral hygiene supplies, or partner with local schools to provide educational presentations on proper dental care. Even non-dental businesses can support by sponsoring local clinics, promoting awareness campaigns, or organizing collection drives for toothbrushes and toothpaste for participating children.
Give Kids A Smile FAQs
When is Give Kids A Smile?
In 2027, Give Kids A Smile will be observed on Friday, February 5, continuing its mission to deliver essential dental services to children in need. This annual event underscores the importance of early oral health intervention.
How many children has Give Kids A Smile helped?
The program’s impact continues to grow, with over 7 million children having received care through Give Kids A Smile since 2003. This figure highlights the ongoing commitment of dental professionals to address pediatric oral health disparities.
What is the impact of poor oral health on children?
Beyond physical discomfort, untreated dental disease in children can result in missed school days and reduced academic performance. The long-term effects can include serious health complications and social challenges, emphasizing the need for accessible preventative care.
Is Give Kids A Smile a national program?
Absolutely, the Give Kids A Smile program is a nationwide initiative, reaching children in every state through the dedicated efforts of the ADA Foundation and its network of volunteer dentists, hygienists, and assistants.
How to Observe Give Kids A Smile
Become a volunteer
Search the GKAS website or call the hotline to find volunteer opportunities in your community around Give Kids A Smile events. With the thousands of dental teams that are always welcoming volunteers, your help can make a huge difference in a child’s life.
Social media
Post GKAS photos, stories, and messages to share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag.
Share logos
Celebrate Give Kids A Smile by printing out and sharing the logo with your friends and family to create awareness around the national events. Logos can be found on the GKAS Facebook page.
Five Facts About Give Kids A Smile
It’s a huge success
Since its national launch in 2003, more than 5.5 million children have received free oral health services through Give Kids A Smile.
Holiday month
February is just a celebratory month! Just as Give Kids A Smile begins on the first Friday of February it turns out February is also the ADA’s National Children’s Dental Health Month.
It’s worldly known
Give Kids A Smile is one of the world’s largest oral health charitable programs.
First held event
The first GKAS event was held in a run-down soon-to-be-demolished dental clinic, where only 15 patient chairs were available for nearly 400 children.
Oral health matters
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cavities are the most prevalent infectious disease in children in the U.S. More than 40% of infants and preschoolers are affected by the time they’re in kindergarten and about half of all children from lower-income families.
Why We Love Give Kids A Smile
Oral health is important
Everyone deserves to have access to oral health. Imagine if you were a child who couldn’t brush your teeth every day or if you had a never-ending aching toothache because of a cavity. How much would it hurt to not be able to do anything about it? Everyone, especially children, deserves access to dental care and dental health.
It takes a village
Without the countless number of dentists as well as their teams and volunteers dedicating their effort and time to this event, Give Kids A Smile would not be possible.
Kids matter
Dental care is the most unmet health need among American children. A child should not have to suffer at the hands of their family not being able to afford dental care; it is important to provide access to dental services to children in need.
Give Kids A Smile dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | February 7 | Friday |
| 2026 | February 6 | Friday |
| 2027 | February 5 | Friday |
| 2028 | February 4 | Friday |
| 2029 | February 2 | Friday |
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