Learn Right, Smile Bright
Oral health education is a key component of AzDA Cares’ mission, and we have provided oral health education as part of our youth outreach programming since our inception. In 2025, AzDA Cares will launch a dedicated oral health education initiative: Learn Right, Smile Bright. As many families cannot afford regular dental care, schools and other community organizations are important places for school age children to learn about oral health.
Throughout the school year, AzDA Cares volunteers will visit Title I schools to provide a fun, engaging oral health curriculum to kids. Lessons will cover topics such as: proper oral hygiene; preventive care; dietary habits; the importance of regular check-ups; the critical role of oral health in overall health and well-being; and ways to access dental care in Arizona communities. AzDA Cares will provide free dental sealants to students, and all students will receive oral health goody bags with dental supplies and takehome educational materials to share with their families. We will also provide referrals to local dental practices to children in need of assistance in finding care. In 2025, AzDA Cares volunteers will visit 50 Title I schools and after-school programs across Arizona, providing approximately 2,000 youth ages 4-10 with the education they need to make healthy decisions and form lifelong healthy habits.