Only the - Cook Children's

20,000 reasons to smile
Community
partners
For four consecutive years, the
Children’s Oral Health Coalition
(COHC), led by Cook Children’s,
has given underserved children a
reason to smile by hosting an annual
toothbrush drive. This year, 20,000
new toothbrushes were donated by
the community during the Drive for
a Smile toothbrush drive. The event
took place at Cook Children’s South
Rehabilitation Clinic on March 4.
“We are so thankful for the
individuals and organizations who
donated toothbrushes,” said Becki
Hale, coordinator of the Children’s
Oral Health Coalition. “Because tooth
decay is the most common infectious
disease of children, it is important
that we make sure these children
in need receive toothbrushes. For some, this is something they
have not had before.”
School nurses report that dental pain is a frequent reason
children come to the nurse’s office at school. If the dental pain
is left untreated, the effects are irreversible, generally become
more severe and the cost of treatment increases and may
take place in a hospital setting rather than in a less expensive
outpatient setting. Toothbrushes are essential to preventing
this issue.
“We put toothbrushes and toothpaste, stickers, brushing
charts and dental education information into a dental health kit
for parents. Members of the Children’s Oral Health Coalition
then hand out these dental kits at local health fairs, schools,
parent classes and community events,” said Hale.
Pictured: Mansfield Independent School District Parent Teach Association members dropped
off a record number of more than 7,200 toothbrushes collected by their school district.
The Children’s Oral Health Coalition is led by Cook Children’s
and made up of more than 35 different local organizations. The
coalition’s mission is to improve the oral health of underserved
children in Tarrant County, particularly focusing on children
ages birth to third grade. COHC educates and provides dental
resources to families with young children in order to instill
healthy behavior choices in the children as early as possible.
Members of the coalition volunteer in different ways to
educate families with proper dental and nutrition information
to help prevent tooth decay in children. The COHC has been
recognized by the Texas Oral Health Coalition as a model for
other communities attempting to address children’s oral health
disease.
Cook Children’s continues to benefit from the long-standing support of
Kohl’s Department stores, which is committed to improve the oral health
of underserved children by sponsoring programs such as Save a Smile and
the Children’s Oral Health Coalition.
www.cookchildrens.org | Summer 2011 17