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For many children, a trip to the library means discovering a new story, joining a craft activity, or finding a favorite book to take home.
Thanks to Patterson Dental, it also became an opportunity to build healthy habits that can protect their smiles for years to come.
Through our Smile Guardian Program, Patterson Dental sponsored oral health education kits for children and families at participating libraries in 15 states: Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
Each Storytime Smiles kit gave libraries an easy, engaging way to bring oral health education into the welcoming, trusted space they already provide for families. Children received activity booklets, bookmarks, superhero capes and masks, and a toothbrush of their own, all contained in a dry erase bag they can use at home to track daily brushing habits. Families also received rack cards with practical tips for parents, while each participating library received a storytime book to help lead conversations about healthy smiles.
At Canon City Public Library in Colorado, staff shared that children “really enjoyed getting their very own bag with a brand new toothbrush and activity book to color.” They added that the children were “so proud to have something that was truly their very own.”
At Martin Public Library in Tennessee, families were excited to receive new toothbrushes during storytime. Library staff noted that even a small item can make a child feel seen and supported.
In Michigan, Capital Area District Libraries reported that children loved the coloring and activity booklets, while parents especially appreciated the child-sized toothbrushes.
The kits also helped libraries extend their impact beyond a single storytime. Wamego Public Library in Kansas shared extra hygiene kits in library bathrooms and with local schools, helping more children and families access oral health resources.
For children, the materials made healthy habits feel fun, personal, and achievable. For parents, they created a simple opening to talk about brushing, dental visits, and the daily routines that protect growing smiles.
Patterson Dental’s support helped libraries across the country turn storytime into something even more powerful: a moment when children could learn, play, and leave with tools to care for their smiles at home.
