October 11, 2012, Chicago, IL— According to a recent public opinion survey commissioned by Oral Health America (OHA) and conducted by Harris Interactive, less than half of Americans have dental insurance[1]. These findings make this year's Fall for Smiles® campaign, which spreads the message of the importance of maintaining a healthy smile through brushing and flossing, regular dental visits, healthy food choices, and avoiding tobacco, more important than ever. This campaign would not be possible without the support of dental companies, associations and organizations, including the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), Hispanic Dental Association, and Atlantic Precious Metal Refining.
"While so many families are still recovering from the country's economic crisis, it remains especially important to remind them of the benefits of continuing to maintain good oral health," said Josh Daab, Vice President of Sales at Atlantic Precious Metal Refining. “We believe in the good work that Oral Health America does and are proud to support Fall for Smiles.”
The Fall for Smiles campaign began in September and runs through October. The campaign's webpage, www.oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles, features several ways for dental professionals and the general public to get involved, including a social media guide, a web button, and a coloring sheet for kids.
"We are proud to participate in this year's Fall for Smiles campaign and appreciate the opportunity to offer a Spanish-language press release to the media and public," said Bonnie Chandler of the Hispanic Dental Association. "Maintaining good oral health is a message that all Americans need to hear, no matter what language they speak."
“Without the support of our sponsors, including OSAP, the Hispanic Dental Association, and Atlantic Precious Metal Refining, Fall for Smiles would not be possible,” said Beth Truett, President & CEO, Oral Health America. “We are honored that they chose to support OHA’s mission to change lives by connecting communities with resources to increase access to oral health care, education and advocacy for all Americans, especially those most vulnerable.” Other Fall for Smiles sponsors include: Aspen Dental, Crest & Oral-B, DentaQuest, Hu-Friedy, Ivoclar Vivadent, Patterson Dental, Midmark, OralDNA Labs, Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait and Young Dental.