Miss Native American USA Works to Improve Oral Health Of American Indian Youth
February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, and reigning Miss Native American USA Kristina Hyatt, RDH, is teaming up with America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation to improve the oral health of Native American youth.
ROSHAN SPOTSVILLE; FOTOGUY2 / ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK
February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, and reigning Miss Native American USA Kristina Hyatt, RDH, is teaming up with America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation to improve the oral health of Native American youth. Beginning this month, America’s ToothFairy will sponsor the Smile Drive, with Hyatt serving as project ambassador. The Smile Drive will collect toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other oral health care products to be distributed to American Indian children.
The aim of the Smile Drive is to promote the importance of oral health to American Indian and Alaska Native children, who have historically experienced high levels of dental caries. Miss Native American USA—who is a dental hygienist employed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Children’s Dental Program—will begin a tour of American Indian Reservations o
n February 21 at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. This reservation has high levels of unmet oral health care needs among children. Hyatt will speak about the relationship between oral health and overall health and distribute dental care kits. Her national tour will conclude this fall.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. February 2016;14(02):16.
