Toothbrushes for Africa

The Woodlands, TX – On January 7th and 8th 2015, Ana Nortje, Director of Developing Smiles lead a team that distributed tooth brushes and toothpaste to elementary school age children in a rural community of Elandshoek, South Africa. This was the first project for Developing Smiles The Woodlands based nonprofit organization, whosee mission is to teach elementary school age children in rural Southern Africa importance of oral health and proper nutrition to maintain healthy teeth and gums. With the generous donations and contributions from parents in Sterling Ridge Primrose School, the Henry Schein Foundation, and many individuals the project benefited 210 children and their families.

Access to toothbrush and toothpaste are essential elements for healthy body, elements often overlooked in nations in which these needs are readily met. In Elandshoek these items are considered luxury as many families are not able to afford them. Developing Smiles will strive to assist underserved communities in rural Africa and make proper oral health and nutrition a priority for both children and their parents. Learning how to care for you teeth and having the tools to do it will reduce the incidence of cavities and pain associated with cavities. It is expected that these programs will contribute to an improvement in students overall health allowing them to focus on their education. We look forward to our next project scheduled for the end of 2015. For more information on Developing Smiles please contact Ana Nortje at 203.848.4120 or ljiljana.nortje@gmail.com

Developing smiles is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization based in Woodlands, Texas, whose mission is to reduce the pain and suffering from dental disease through education of the world's most vulnerable groups and provide the tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency. Developing smiles partners with donors, local organizations, and many others in order to deliver sustainable services in health and education.