12 October 2026

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AAO and Stand for the Silent Launch Bullying Bites Campaign

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Unite Communities This Month to Shine a Light on Bullying Prevention

AAO and Stand for the Silent Unite Communities This Month to Shine a Light on Bullying Prevention

This month, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the world’s oldest and largest dental specialty organization, and Stand for the Silent, a nonprofit organization working to end bullying and youth suicide, are turning landmarks across the U.S. and Canada orange to send a visible message that no child should have to face bullying alone.

The two organizations’ annual Bullying Bites campaign returns for National Bullying Prevention Month, which coincides with National Orthodontic Health Month, encouraging families, schools, orthodontic practices, and communities to stand together against bullying by promoting kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in and out of schools.

The centerpiece of this year’s campaign will be a series of high-profile landmarks illuminated in orange on or around Unity Day. Nearly two dozen monuments and landmarks across the U.S. and Canada will participate, creating a coast-to-coast visual reminder that bullying prevention is a community responsibility.

Landmarks scheduled to light up orange for Unity Day include:

Unity Day, celebrated this year on Wednesday, October 21, is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month. The annual observance encourages people to “wear and share” orange as a visible demonstration of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Bullying remains a significant concern for young people. One out of every five students ages 12–18 reports being bullied at school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Nearly half (41.3%) of students who reported being bullied at school indicated that they think the bullying would happen again.

Orthodontists are in a unique position to support children and families because they routinely see school-aged patients every six to eight weeks throughout the course of treatment. These regular visits provide opportunities to reinforce positive messages about kindness and inclusion while helping parents and caregivers recognize potential signs that a child may be struggling.

“Orthodontists have the opportunity to build relationships with young people and their families over time, which gives us an important platform to reinforce the message that everyone deserves to feel safe, accepted, and supported,” said Dr. Michael Durbin, AAO President. “Through our Bullying Bites campaign with Stand for the Silent, we hope to turn a simple message into visible action and encourage our members, staff, and communities to stand together against bullying — during October and throughout the year.”

“Every child deserves to feel safe and supported, and every community has a role to play in making that possible,” said Kirk Smalley, Stand for the Silent President and co-founder. “Bullying has devastating effects and impacts so many children every day. Working with AAO to help spread our message is vital to helping end the bullying epidemic. The orange landmarks are a powerful way to show young people that they are not alone and that people are willing to stand with them.”

Pledge cards and other campaign materials will be available both in orthodontic offices and online, so AAO members can encourage patients, families, and staff to commit to taking a stand against bullying. AAO also invites those looking for additional opportunities to support anti-bullying efforts to support Kind Lips, a lip balm company that donates 20% of every product purchased to anti-bullying organizations. AAO members can also choose to sponsor Stand for the Silent’s efforts to provide educational assembly programs at schools nationwide.

The American Association of Orthodontists represents 19,000 orthodontist members throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad. Founded in 1900, AAO is the world’s oldest and largest dental specialty organization. AAO is dedicated to ethically advancing the art and science of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics worldwide; improving the overall oral healthcare of the public; advocating for the health and safety of the public; and educating the public about the benefits of orthodontic treatment provided by an orthodontic specialist. For more information, visit aaoinfo.org .

Stand for the Silent was founded in 2010 in honor of Kirk and Laura Smalley’s son, Ty Field-Smalley. Just 11 years old, Ty tragically took his own life after being bullied for more than two years and suspended from school for retaliating. Determined to honor their son by protecting other children from bullying, Kirk and Laura began sharing Ty’s story in schools, giving rise to what is now a national movement to end bullying and youth suicide.

Source: https://aaoinfo.org/about/bullying-bites/