Woodinville Teens Taking Toothbrushes To “Save Smiles” in Nicaragua

--Information from Woodinville veterinarian Hanna Ekstrom, volunteer for Save Their Smile

Tired of all the wrangling about healthcare in the U.S.? Then ponder a place where children have never seen a toothbrush so they live with constant, severe—and totally avoidable—pain from dental decay.

A small but intrepid group of local high-schoolers, parents, and a Woodinville doctor will make the long journey starting July 17, as volunteers with Save Their Smiles, an organization dedicated to helping children in Nicaragua live pain free from dental decay.

The group of Woodinville teens and adults will travel by commercial jet, prop plane, then truck to one of the poorest areas in Nicaragua, which is itself one of the poorest countries in Central America. They’re headed for remote villages where the Miskito Indians live with no running water, no electricity, and no dental care, until now.  The group will be taking toothbrushes and dental supplies donated by area dentists—and, they hope, you.  All volunteers will pay their own way, so all money that is donated goes directly to help the children on the ground. Just $5 provides dental care for a child for an entire year! All donations are tax-deductible.

The group urges friends, teachers, churches, neighbors to join and strengthen their effort—by donating toothbrushes specially discounted at ; by getting your car washed Saturday July 14 at the White Stallion Arco; or through direct donations to Save Their Smiles.

Save Their Smiles is a dental health outreach program founded by Woodinville’s , not a dentist. Originally, Dr. Ekstrom volunteered in Nicaragua as a veterinarian, using her skills improve the health and economy of impoverished people by keeping their farm animals health. But when she saw that the children following her around on her veterinary rounds were in so much pain—all for the lack of a toothbrush and little education—she created Save Their Smiles.

The program has two arms, one that addresses preventing dental decay in children from 0-4 years of age, and another, which is directed at educating school age children about how to prevent dental decay. In total, there are almost 8,500 children enrolled in the program. Children receive 1 free toothbrush and two fluoride applications per year, and daily brushing sessions at school to keep their teeth strong, healthy, and pain free. Save Their Smiles also trains local village health workers to do teaching and follow-up throughout the year.

The local teenagers will help teach and entertain the native children while they wait for a dental check and fluoride application, supervised by Dr. Ekstrom and provided through specially trained local community health volunteers and program staff. The teens are Jacob Yee, Piper Wilson, Lauren Stoneberg and Carl Christensen—all of . Ella Ekstrom, a 6th grader at Woodin's Dual-language program, will be returning to Nicaragua once again to help with Spanish translation. Parents Amy and Rick Wilson and Tim Stoneberg are going along, with support from the church.

Dr. Ekstrom said she is thrilled to have the youth participate in the project. “This is a great opportunity, not only for the village children, but also for these teens, who are going to see what a difference education can make. The project is unique in that instead of simply giving a handout, we are changing lives for generations—all by empowering kids and parents with knowledge so that they can help themselves.”

The project is scheduled to run for 10 years in order to establish habits of dental hygiene throughout the community, then to move to another area in need, as this program can work anywhere there is a school system in place.

The other main lesson, Ekstrom adds, will be that even one teenager—when backed by a caring community—can begin to change the world profoundly.

Currently, the Woodinville volunteers are canvassing local dentists, asking for dental supply donations, and have received generous support already from Woodinville dentists Drs. Wagner and Styrlund, Bothell dentist Dr. McGee, and also Holly Risner of Dental Health Products, Inc.

 Ways you can join the effort:

• The new Walgreen’s Drugstore on Woodinville-Duvall Rd. is selling discounted toothbrushes that customers can buy and donate right at the store. Manager Alan Powell explains, “We at Walgreens are happy to support this community effort-it is the right thing to do.”
• Wash Your Car, Save a Smile: On Thursday, July 14th, watch for the giant toothbrushes waving at the Arco Station near Woodinville’s White Stallion between 10 am and 2 pm.
• Donate at www.SaveTheirSmiles.org, and 100% of your tax-deductible donation will buy dental and teaching supplies for the local health workers who carry on the program throughout the year.

 For more information, contact Dr. Hanna Ekstrom at 425-770-6069 or at info@SaveTheirSmiles.org

Additon: This story originally left out Ella Ekstrom as one if the children going to Nicaragua, the story has been updated.