About the project
The “Share a Smile” program is a nationwide educational initiative implemented by the Polish Red Cross in cooperation with Mars Polska and substantive partners such as the Polish Dental Society and the Polish Society of Pediatric Dentistry. The program aims to combat tooth decay and educate children about proper oral hygiene. Aimed at primary school students (grades 1–3) and kindergartens, the program teaches simple and effective rules for caring for teeth.
Thanks to attractive educational materials – books, posters and coloring books – children learn four key steps in an accessible way: brush, clean, chew and check. Implementing the program helps shape habits that contribute to a healthy smile now and in the future.
The program “Share a Smile” is fully funded by Mars Poland, which this year allocates 1 million zlotys for the comprehensive implementation of 12 editions.
Need
Caries is one of the most serious health problems among children in Poland – according to data from the Ministry of Health, as many as 82% of six-year-olds suffer from this disease. Rare tooth brushing, lack of knowledge about proper oral hygiene, and irregular visits to the dentist result in caries often remaining untreated. This is not only an aesthetic problem but also a health issue – it can lead to pain, infections, and negatively impact the health of the entire body.
That's why it is so important to early establish habits of taking care of teeth and to educate children, parents, and teachers in this area. The program “Share a Smile” addresses these challenges by promoting prevention and caring for oral health from an early age.
Six-year-old children have cavities.
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Children aged 6 years experienced tooth pain or discomfort in the oral cavity.
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6-year-old children brush their teeth twice a day.
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6-year-old children brush their teeth once a day.
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How do we help?
Educational Activities
Conducted in primary schools and kindergartens by teachers and instructors of the Polish Red Cross, they focus on simple and practical principles of maintaining dental health.
Educational materials
Booklets, posters, coloring books, and other teaching aids that support children in acquiring and consolidating knowledge.
Expert Support
The program is implemented in collaboration with the Polish Dental Society and the Polish Society of Pediatric Dentistry, guaranteeing high quality of the knowledge provided.
Building health awareness
Information campaigns promoting oral hygiene among children, parents, and teachers to work together for healthy smiles.
Schools and kindergartens (only pre-kindergarten classes) interested in participating in the program are invited to contact the PCK branches throughout Poland.
Who helps?
The nationwide educational program Share a Smile has been continuously run since 2013 by the Polish Red Cross and Mars Polska, along with substantive partners – the Polish Dental Society and the Polish Society of Pediatric Dentistry.
During each edition, students from all over Poland learn the principles of proper oral hygiene and find out how to prevent tooth decay in 4 simple steps. Educational activities undertaken within the framework of the program aim to instill proper habits in children and reduce the scale of the tooth decay problem in Poland.
Polish Dental Society
The scientific society has been developing medical knowledge and setting trends in the field of dentistry since 1951. Through its partnership in the "Share a Smile" program, the Polish Dental Society educates and promotes proper oral hygiene practices and cavity prevention.
Polish Society of Pediatric Dentistry
This association was established in 2013, and its aim is, among other things, to develop programs for the prevention, education, and promotion of oral health in children. As a substantive partner of the campaign “Share a Smile,” PTSD helps educate both children and their parents about the importance of cavity prevention.
Previous editions
“Share a Smile” is a nationwide educational program organized since 2013 by the producer of sugar-free Orbit® gum – Mars Polska – in cooperation with the Polish Red Cross, the Polish Dental Society, and the Polish Society of Pediatric Dentistry. Our goal is to build awareness among students in the first three grades of primary schools and kindergarteners about how important proper dental care is and how to effectively maintain oral hygiene. Through the implementation of the program, we aim to significantly reduce the number of children with dental caries in Poland. The 12th edition of “Share a Smile” is currently underway. So far, over one million students have participated in the educational lessons. Mars Polska has allocated 8,530,481 PLN for the program from the sales of Orbit gum.
As part of the initiative, children receive attractive educational materials tailored to their needs, suitable for both online and offline teaching realities.
Together with the Polish Red Cross, we have created modern educational notebooks, prepared by experts specifically for the program. The specially developed materials aim to show students the key principles and benefits of maintaining dental hygiene. Through engaging exercises, games, and quizzes, children gain knowledge while having fun. The educational notebooks will reach every primary school and kindergarten participating in the program – potentially benefiting up to 150,000 students from across the country.
Educational materials for download
It’s important to cultivate proper habits from a young age. The educational materials prepared as part of the „Share a Smile” program are tailored to the cognitive abilities of children. They convey the most important principles of maintaining a healthy smile in an engaging way. The materials for students were created by Mars and the Polish Red Cross in collaboration with experts from the Polish Dental Society (PTS) and the Polish Society of Pediatric Dentistry (PTSD).
We invite you to download lesson plans and materials that will be helpful in implementing the „Share a Smile” program in grades I–III of primary school and in preschool and kindergarten classes. They have been developed in line with the core curriculum and are fully compatible with the exercise book. The educational materials have been adapted for both in-person learning and online classes!
An exercise booklet intended for children in grades 1-3. It is filled with interesting tasks that will introduce the principles of maintaining a healthy smile in an attractive and accessible way.
4 activity scenarios containing key elements for implementing the core curriculum in grades 1-3. They will allow for engaging lessons on oral health.
Set of 4 interactive presentations that will be helpful in conducting a lesson full of knowledge and fun. See the individual topics or download them all.
An interesting two-minute video animation designed for children in kindergarten and grades 1-3, which presents in a friendly way and helps reinforce the 4 steps for healthy and clean teeth.
A workbook intended for children in kindergarten. It is filled with interesting tasks that will attractively and accessibly introduce the principles of taking care of a healthy smile.
4 lesson scenarios containing key elements for implementing the curriculum in kindergarten. They will allow for engaging lessons on oral health.
Set of 4 interactive presentations that will be helpful in conducting a lesson full of knowledge and fun. See individual topics or download them all.
An interesting two-minute video animation designed for children in preschool and grades 1-3, which will friendly present and help reinforce the 4 steps for healthy and clean teeth.
Share a smile
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