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CHARLOTTE, NC (November 18, 2025) — We are proud to announce the successful conclusion of our fourth annual My Smile Matters campaign, a nationwide initiative promoting the importance of dental hygiene during National Dental Hygiene Month. The 2025 campaign reached more than 181,000 children and caregivers through educational activities, community outreach, and engaging online resources shared by dental professionals, educators, and public health advocates across the United States and beyond.
The campaign featured free downloadable toolkits to help participants promote oral health in schools, clinics, libraries, and at home. A total of 210 organizations and individuals downloaded educational resources, while others accessed a social media toolkit to raise awareness online. Materials were utilized in 44 U.S. states as well as Canada, Greece, Italy, andPeru, demonstrating the campaign’s global reach and relevance.
“Our mission is to help all children grow up with healthy smiles—and that begins with education,” said Jill Malmgren, our executive director. “While we remain focused on eliminating disparities in access to care, our long-term goal is to equip every community with tools to prevent dental disease before it starts. My Smile Matters is a vital part of that mission.”
Organizations that participated in the campaign included public health departments, schools and Head Start programs, libraries, dental hygienists and dental offices, universities, disability support organizations, and community outreach programs.
Each October, we honor five dental hygienists whose extraordinary commitment to children’s oral health in marginalized communities ensures brighter futures through better care and prevention. Click here for more details about the 2025 winners.
The 2025 Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award recipients are:
Sade Morel, RDHAP – Mentone, CA
Few hygienists embody compassion and accessibility like Sade Morel. As a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, she provides sensory‑friendly dental care to children—including those with special needs—and brings mobile preventive services directly to families with limited access to care.
Christine Sanaphay – Peoria, AZ
For nearly 20 years, Christine Sanaphay has delivered care and compassion locally and globally, volunteering with TeamSmile, Special Smiles at the Special Olympics, and international missions in the Philippines and Cambodia.
Crystal Spring, RDH – Bozeman, MT
Growing up on Montana’s Fort Peck Reservation, Crystal Spring founded Smiles Across Montana, a mobile and teledental nonprofit that has served more than 12,000 patients across tribal and rural communities.
Lisa Valdez, RDH – Denver, CO
A 30‑year veteran of the field, Lisa Valdez has educated and treated thousands of children through Kids In Need of Dentistry’s school‑based programs. Her leadership and empathy inspire colleagues and students alike.
Jennifer Nowotney, RDHAP – Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Known as “The Friendly Flosser,” Jennifer founded a nonprofit to deliver mobile care and education directly to schools and community centers, ensuring that every child can feel safe, valued, and confident in the dental chair.
“These inspiring professionals go above and beyond to remove barriers, ease fears, and deliver care with empathy,” said Malmgren. “They represent the heart of ourcampaign and the future of preventive oral health.”
The 2025 My Smile Matters campaign also featured a fun and educational Halloween activity: the Rate Your Candy contest. Hundreds of kids across the country used a worksheet to rate the cavity risk of their candy based on texture, acidity, and sugar content.
Five winners each received a $100 Visa gift card:
• Desmond H., 10 – North Plainfield, NJ
• Vivienne H., 8 – Sterling, IL
• Mason L., 10 – Ellensburg, WA
• Evanna Y., 11 – Harrisburg, NC
• Charley D., 3 – Norfolk, NE
“Our Mouth Monster‑themed activities help kids learn how sugar affects their teeth without making it scary,” Malmgren added. “They’re a hit with teachers and parents every year.”
To learn more about the My Smile Matters campaign visit MySmileMatters.org.
