BATON ROUGE – LSU swimming’s Shanna Spears and track and field’s Lauren Saucier took time away from their busy training schedules to volunteer at “Give Kids A Smile Day,” which was held locally at Associates In Pediatric Dentistry on Airline Highway Friday.
The local dentistry brought in busloads of children whose families could not afford oral health care and gave them a free teeth cleaning and examination. Spears and Saucier spent time encouraging the children and teaching them the importance of keeping their teeth clean through numerous fun activities.
“It was amazing hanging out with the kids while they waited to have their cleaning,” Spears said. “We listened and danced to Michael Jackson while cheering ‘Who Dat’ for the Super Bowl-bound Saints.
“It was astonishing how many of these kids had never been to the dentist. We sometimes don’t think twice about going to the dentist because it’s a normal occurrence. But for these kids, it might be the only time they go for a while. It is wonderful that dentist offices across the country are able to help thousands of kids.”
A nationwide program by the American Dental Association, Give Kids a Smile Day began eight years ago in St. Louis, and is held annually. The program contributed more than $31 million in dental treatment, screening, education and products to half a million children across the country in 2009.