06 October 2026

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America’s ToothFairy Launches 2026 My Smile Matters Campaign

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Dental Hygiene Month campaign invites dental professionals and community advocates to celebrate dental hygienists, recognize outstanding service, and help children build healthier smiles.

America’s ToothFairy will launch its fifth annual My Smile Matters campaign on October 1, bringing dental professionals, educators, and community organizations together to celebrate Dental Hygiene Month and help children and families better understand why oral health matters.

Since the campaign began in 2022, participants have used its free educational resources to reach approximately 550,000 children, parents, and caregivers. What began as a dental-focused awareness effort has also drawn participation from schools, public health programs, libraries, childcare organizations, universities, and other community groups that help bring oral health education beyond the dental office.

A central part of My Smile Matters is recognizing dental hygienists whose work reflects the spirit of Dental Hygiene Month. Nominations for America’s ToothFairy’s 2026 Outstanding Dental Hygienist Awards are open through September 30.

The organization is looking for hygienists who go beyond excellent clinical care to improve access, education, or oral health outcomes for underserved populations. Past honorees have brought preventive services into schools and rural communities, created mobile and teledental programs, made care more accessible for patients with special healthcare needs, organized free-care events, mentored fellow professionals, and advocated for communities that are often overlooked.

Among them is Amber Lovatos, RDH, BSDH, a 2022 honoree whose work has included public health advocacy, education, community outreach, and efforts to create mentorship and professional development opportunities within dentistry.

Crystal Spring, RDH, recognized in 2025, founded Smiles Across Montana, a nonprofit mobile and teledental organization that brings preventive and diagnostic services to schools, Head Start programs, nursing homes, and tribal communities. Since its founding in 2018, the organization has served more than 12,000 patients.

“For 20 years, we’ve seen how much one committed dental professional can change the trajectory of a child’s oral health,” said Jill Malmgren, Executive Director of America’s ToothFairy. “The hygienists we want to recognize are the people who see a barrier to care and find a way around it. They use their skills, compassion, and leadership to reach children and families who might otherwise be overlooked.”

America’s ToothFairy, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, created My Smile Matters to help dental professionals and other oral health advocates make Dental Hygiene Month an opportunity for both education and action.

Recognizing an outstanding hygienist is just one way dental teams can take part in My Smile Matters. The campaign also includes:

My Smile Matters runs throughout October in recognition of Dental Hygiene Month.

Dental professionals can nominate an outstanding hygienist through September 30 and access campaign resources and Rate Your Candy contest materials at MySmileMatters.org .

America’s ToothFairy increases access to oral health care by supporting nonprofit clinics and community partners that provide education, prevention, and treatment services for underserved children. The organization, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, provides donated products, educational resources, and financial support to help more children grow up with healthy smiles. For more information, visit AmericasToothFairy.org .

Source: http://MySmileMatters.org