Happy National Children’s Dental Health Month, Smile Squad! Healthy Smile Hero here, and today we’re talking about something that makes my tooth-loving heart sing: fluoride. 🦷✨

In my adventures fighting for healthy smiles, I’ve discovered that sometimes the biggest heroes come in small packages. And fluoride? It’s the tiny-but-mighty superhero of the dental world.

Picture this: a cavity-fighting champion that works 24/7, doesn’t need fancy equipment, and protects ALL kids’ teeth – whether they can make it to the dentist regularly or not. That’s our friend fluoride! It is quietly strengthening teeth in communities across the country. Fluoride is like that friend who shows up to help everyone at the party. It doesn’t care if you live in a fancy house or a small apartment. It doesn’t check your bank account or ask to see your dental insurance card. It just gets to work, making every child’s teeth stronger and more resistant to pesky cavity-causing bacteria.

But it’s time for a brush with reality: right now, there are little smiles that can’t reach the care they deserve. Some communities don’t have fluoridated water. Some families can’t afford fluoride treatments or even basic dental care.

So I am sending out the urgent call for Healthy Smile Heroes. Every child deserves a healthy smile, regardless of their zip code or their parents’ wallet.

Pediatric dentists, my partners in the battle for kids’ dental health, affirm that consuming fluoridated drinking water is both safe and effective in preventing and controlling tooth decay from an early age. One simple treatment can protect entire communities! Did you know pediatric dentists have 2 extra years of training beyond dental school? Think of them as the pediatricians of dentistry, with tiny mirrors instead of stethoscopes. And they’re not just tooth docs – they’re preventive care specialists. You can count on their expertise! (If you want to read more, here is the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Policy for Use of Fluoride. You can also check out common questions about fluoride from the Campaign for Dental Health!)

Being a healthy smile hero means standing up for all kids, and this is your chance to join the fight. Your donation to the AAPD Foundation helps us provide dental care, fluoride treatments, and education to kids across the country who need it most. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every dollar helps put a healthy smile on a child’s face.

Together, let’s celebrate the power of prevention and bring dental care to the kids who need it most – not just for National Children’s Dental Health Month, but all year long. When it comes to healthy smiles, every child deserves a hero in their corner. Click below to donate! ⬇️ 

With toothpaste and tenacity,