Record Numbers Hit During Dental Hygiene Month 2025!

This October, dental professionals and educators across the country came together to celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month through our fourth annual My Smile Matters campaign. Thanks to generous support from Dentsply Sirona and Darby Dental Supply, we provided hundreds of oral health advocates with free resources to educate kids and caregivers about healthy smiles—and how to protect them.

With more than 181,000 people reached in 44 states and four countries, this year’s campaign was our most impactful yet!

Free Resources Empowered Educators and Advocates

Participants in the campaign accessed two special toolkits designed to make oral health education easy and engaging:

• 210 individuals and organizations downloaded our educational materials
• 173 individuals downloaded the matching social media kit
• Resources were used in public health departments, schools, libraries, outreach organizations, dental clinics, and more
• Countries reached included Canada, Greece, Italy, and Peru

Although the campaign was designed to boost awareness during National Dental Hygiene Month, many organizations will continue using the materials year-round in their community outreach and school-based programming.

Social Media Amplified the Message

Across social media platforms, dental hygienists, educators, clinics, and community advocates helped spread the word that oral health is essential to overall health. Our posts received tens of thousands of views and strong engagement throughout the month, with activity peaking around Halloween thanks to our popular Rate Your Candy contest.

Kids Rated Their Halloween Candy (and Won!)

This year’s kid-friendly worksheet helped children evaluate the dental danger level of their Halloween candy—while reinforcing practical ways to protect their teeth from the Mouth Monsters.

Five lucky winners received $100 Visa gift cards in recognition of their tooth-friendly thinking:

• Desmond H., age 10 – North Plainfield, NJ
• Vivienne H., age 8 – Sterling, IL
• Mason L., age 10 – Ellensburg, WA
• Evanna Y., age 11 – Harrisburg, NC
• Charley D., age 3 – Norfolk, NE

Want to try the worksheet with your family, school, or clinic?
Download the Halloween worksheet
Download the Rating Chart

2025 Outstanding Dental Hygienists Honored

Each year during the campaign, we recognize five Outstanding Dental Hygienists who go above and beyond to serve children in their communities. Their stories reflect the power of compassion, innovation, and access.

These inspiring professionals remove barriers, ease fears, and deliver care with empathy. They represent the heart of our campaign and the future of preventive oral health.

This year’s honorees included:

• Sade Morel, RDHAP (Mentone, CA) – Sensory-friendly and mobile care for children with special needs
• Christine Sanaphay (Peoria, AZ) – Global service and local volunteerism with TeamSmile and Special Olympics
• Crystal Spring, RDH (Bozeman, MT) – Founder of Smiles Across Montana, bringing mobile and teledental services to tribal and rural areas
• Lisa Valdez, RDH (Denver, CO) – Decades of outreach and leadership through Kids In Need of Dentistry
• Jennifer Nowotney, RDHAP (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) – Nonprofit and mobile dental outreach as “The Friendly Flosser”

Read more about the winners and how they are helping kids have healthy smiles.

Thank You for Helping Kids LEARN ABOUT HEALTHY SMILES!

We’re deeply grateful to our supporters, especially Dentsply Sirona and Darby Dental Supply, for helping us expand access to oral health education during this campaign.

Together, we’re not only addressing health disparities—we’re building a culture where every child grows up with the knowledge and confidence to protect their smile.

Want to get involved in 2026?‍

To learn more about sponsoring or joining My Smile Matters in 2026, contact us at AmericasToothFairy@ncohf.org.

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