02/03/14
Students at Fort Hays State University planning on careers in dentistry will collect dental care products as part of the National Children's Oral Health Foundation America's ToothFairy Smile Drive, designed to raise awareness and collect oral care products for at-risk children and teens.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Student volunteers from FHSU's Pre-Dental Club are leading activities locally.

With participation from 3,900 Walmart locations, the America's ToothFairy Smile Drive will promote oral health for families across the nation. Local community members can visit their local Walmart to drop off donated oral care products for local at-risk youth in the America's ToothFairy Smile Drive box and pick up their free Kid's Activity Packs, including ToothFairy Kids Club free membership cards, ToothFairy 101® educational activities for children, and coupons from Walmart, Crest and Oral-B.

Patrons donating to the America's ToothFairy Smile Drive can share their experience by snapping a selfie and using the hashtag #SmileDrive2014 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and rinse will benefit the KVC Wheatland Psychiatric Hospital, Hays, said, Leigh Reynolds, Hays senior and president of the Pre-Dental Club.

For more information on these activities, contact Reynolds at 785-259-7102 or by email at leighereynolds@gmail.com.

National Children's Oral Health Foundation, known as America's ToothFairy, was formed in 2006 as an aggressive response to eliminate pediatric dental disease by providing community programs with comprehensive resources to deliver vital educational, preventive and treatment services to children most in need.

America's ToothFairy is dedicated to raising awareness of the No. 1 chronic childhood illness: pediatric dental disease, facilitating the delivery of comprehensive oral health services and eliminating this preventable disease from future generations.