Please contribute to TeamSmile to help us provide free dentistry to underprivileged children throughout the country. Through our partnerships with professional and major college sports teams, we’re able to create a lifetime experience AND provide life-changing dentistry for children in great need. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.
All across the country, there are thousands of children who are not able to receive dental care. Many of their parents do not have the financial means or dental insurance to provide their children with this valuable service. TeamSmile’s goal is to provide free preventative care, education and dental treatment to youth throughout the United States.
The 2019 calendar year saw TeamSmile conduct more programs (33), serve more children (7,126) and provide more free dental care and oral health education ($2.8 million) than any other year of TeamSmile. For many of these children, this is the first opportunity they had to receive dental care in their lives. The smiles on the children’s faces and the tears in the parents’ eyes say it all… giving children access to dental care goes far beyond the treatment, but gives individuals hope for a better future.
TeamSmile works together with dental professionals and professional athletic organizations to provide this service in a fun and memorable atmosphere. If you would like to make a donation to our cause, click on to the donate button on the upper left. If you would like to join TeamSmile in its mission, click on the volunteer tab. Working together, we can help these kids improve their current dental health, overall wellness, and life-long self-esteem.
The Facts
Tooth Decay Affects More Than 1 in 5 Children
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%).
Single Most Common Chronic Childhood Disease
Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease; more common than asthma and hay fever. Tooth decay is the most prevalent harmful dental condition among children. When untreated, tooth decay will destroy a child’s teeth and have a lasting impact on their overall health. According to the CDC, more than 42% of children between ages 2 to 11 will have a cavity. Even more startling, cavities are 5 times more common than childhood asthma and 20 times more common than diabetes.
Missing School Due to Dental Related Illnesses
A national survey found that roughly 1 in 7 children ages 6-12 had suffered a toothache in the previous six months. Children with poor oral health were nearly 3 times more likely to miss school due to dental pain. Dental problems are responsible for about 1/3 of elementary school absences, among children children from economically vulnerable families. Teens reporting dental pain were almost 4 times more likely to have a lower grade-point average than their healthier peers.
Tooth Decay is Progressive
Candy is NOT the only cause of poor dental health. There is no doubt that eating candy can certainly lead to cavities. However, it’s not the only thing that’s responsible. Looking at the big picture, many different types of food can cause tooth decay. In particular, starchy snacks such as cookies, crackers, or bread, can increase a child’s likelihood of developing cavities. This should not be too surprising, after all, tooth decay is caused by acid-producing bacteria that consume carbohydrates. In other words, cavities result from microorganisms that feast on the sugars from starchy foods. After eating these foods, it’s important to brush your child’s teeth.
Children Before Kindergarten Are Not Being Seen
25 percent of children from low income families have not seen a dentist before entering kindergarten.
