Remember picture day? I used to love going shopping a new outfit and laying it out on my bed before the big day. Then, without fail my mom would make me sleep in sponge rollers. I hated those curlers! My hair was always huge. Looking back on those pictures always makes me smile.
As a teacher, picture day was a day I always looked forward to. Kids come to school all dolled up, with warnings from their parents to stay pressed and polished until after pictures were over. I loved to watch my second graders literally untuck their shirts as they climbed down from having their pictures taken and relax again! Weeks later I would get a huge stack of photos to distribute, and as I would sort through them one thing would always stand out to me. Not their perfectly combed hair, not their beautifully ironed shirts, or color coordinating bows, but their gorgeous smiles. Each new school year that smile is captured and it should be a healthy one.
This September, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures launches Smile for Picture Day. It is a program that is using the tradition of picture day as a chance to promote healthy dental habits to children in need.
Did you know?
- More than 51 million U.S. school hours are lost each year because of dental related illness?
- Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease among 5 to 17 year olds, more common than asthma or hay fever.
- Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections, affecting a child’s ability to eat, speak, learn and play.
- Poor oral health at an early age can impact school performance, social skills and self-esteem.
By partnering with Teach for America, Colgate will create more healthy smiles by presenting their award-winning oral health curriculum to elementary schools across the U.S. Over 2,000 Teach for America educators will receive Smile For Picture day materials to help teach healthy brushing routines, and Colgate’s mobile dental vans will provide free dental screenings on site at more than 150 elementary schools.
Promote healthy smiles in your home or school by visiting www.ColgateBSBF.com, there you can download amazing educational materials, videos and more.
I received a “Smile For Picture Day Package” in exchange for this post. The opinions expressed above are my own. Any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.