World Smile Day
World Smile Day is celebrated on the first Friday in October each year. In 1963, Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts, created the smiley face. The smiley face went on to be a recognizable symbol of goodwill and good cheer. World Smile Day is a great way to dedicate a day to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile!”
A healthy smile can truly transform our visual appearance, the positivity of our mindset, as well as improving the health of not only our mouth but our body too. Special Smiles is the dental health discipline of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes that provides athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to take charge of their oral health. Special Smiles provides thorough oral health care information, offers free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to Special Olympics athletes.
So get your smile on and celebrate World Smile Day with your clean teeth and acts of kindness!
The Facts
Special Smiles examinations have found that a large percentage of Special Olympics Athletes in the U.S are unaware of the condition of their oral health.
47% have signs of gum disease
25% have untreated tooth decay (cavities: damaged areas in teeth that develop into tiny holes)
12% have mouth pain
Additional Resources
- Oral Health and the Body (PDF)
- Brushing Guide (PDF)
- Caregivers Guide to Good Oral Health for Persons with Special Needs (PDF): English | Spanish
- Special Smiles Fact Sheet
- Lots to Smile About — A Special Olympics Impact Story
Activities
Zoom Backgrounds
Virtual backgrounds are one of the easiest ways to spread awareness about World Heart Day! On September 29th you can replace your normal backdrop with a World Heart Day specific one! Get your friends and co-workers to share and join in to spread awareness!
Right-click the image then save as to your computer. Open your Zoom application and update your background to the file you saved from this page.
Social Media
Take a picture of yourself with the biggest smile you can make. Post the picture on social media with a caption about the act of kindness you made for World Smile Day to make someone else smile! Use the hashtag #SOMDWorldSmileDay
Tag and follow us on Social!
Facebook: @Special Olympics Maryland
Instagram: @SpolympicsMD
Twitter: @SpolympicsMD
LinkedIn: @Special Olympics Maryland