SJHM Presents ‘Power of a Smile Week’ To Promote Oral Health
Free collectible buttons available at all Lancaster County public libraries
LANCASTER, Pa. (June 8, 2009) – “Power of a Smile Week” is coming to Lancaster County June 14-20.
What to wear? A smile, of course, and a free collectible Power of a Smile button courtesy of the nonprofit St. Joseph Health Ministries. The 2-inch buttons will be available at all Lancaster County public libraries and select other locations beginning Friday (June 12), while supplies last.
The blue-with-white buttons feature a smiling tooth and St. Joseph Health Ministries’ Web address, www.sjhm.org. Visitors to the Web site will find easy-to-use information to improve oral health. The site includes a children’s activity book and a 30-day brushing and flossing chart, each of which can be downloaded at no cost.
Power of a Smile Week complements St. Joseph Health Ministries’ children’s oral health initiative, “Brush. Brush. Smile!®” Since its debut in 2004, Brush. Brush. Smile!® has provided nearly $2.5 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to more than 16,000 children in Lancaster County’s 16 school districts.
“Power of a Smile Week is another way for St. Joseph Health Ministries to draw attention to the importance of oral health, for children and adults alike,” said Jennifer Thompson, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health Ministries. “If the eyes are the window to the soul, then the teeth are the window to overall health.”
For instance, several types of cardiovascular disease may be linked to oral health, according to MayoClinic.com, including heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth. Poor oral health can make diabetes more difficult to control.
St. Joseph Health Ministries (www.sjhm.org) improves the health of children in need within Lancaster County.
