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Street SmilesStrengthening Minds and Mouths

Have you smiled today?

We distribute oral care supplies and share oral-health education, so every street can have a smile.

“Don't let the world change your smile, but let your smile change the world.”Our favorite quote

A smile on every street

Street Smiles distributes oral care kits and supplies to people who need them and offers clear, welcoming oral-health education to children and families. We strive to provide smiles to every street.

Our programs

STREET Program

Our oral care drive. We distribute oral care kits and supplies.

SMILE Program

Our educational program, built on inclusive, lifelong learning.

Research

Anonymous insight and published data on oral care for unhoused and underrepresented people.

Follow us

Updates and drives on Instagram: @street.smilesil

Divisions

Four parts of Street Smiles, one mission.

STREET Program (Oral Care Drive)

Striving To Relieve & Equip Everyone Together.

SMILE Program (Education)

Strengthening Minds and Mouths through Inclusive Lifelong Education.

Research

The survey, statistics, and sources.

Administration

Password-protected area for authorized team members.

STREET Program

Striving To Relieve & Equip Everyone Together

The STREET Program is our oral care drive. We distribute oral care kits and supplies so that people can look after their teeth no matter where they are staying.

Oral care kits distributed

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What the name means

  • Striving – steady effort to reach every street
  • To Relieve – easing mouth pain and the barriers to care
  • & Equip – putting the tools for a healthy mouth in people's hands
  • Everyone Together – a community effort, with no one left out

What we distribute

Oral care kits and supplies. A toothbrush and toothpaste can be hard to come by without a stable home, and they are the first step to comfort, health, and confidence.

Get supplies or get involved

Message us on Instagram at @street.smilesil to ask about kits and upcoming drives.

SMILE Program

Strengthening Minds and Mouths through Inclusive Lifelong Education

The SMILE Program is our educational program. It makes foundational oral-health knowledge accessible, engaging, and approachable for children across socioeconomic backgrounds, and encourages healthy habits that extend beyond the classroom.

Purpose

Understandable health education helps children build positive habits early. SMILE provides a welcoming resource that presents oral-health concepts clearly, and complements professional dental care and formal health education.

What's included

  • Brushing guide with a two-minute timer
  • Our interactive, instructional game
  • Simple, child-friendly navigation
  • Terms and educational disclaimer

Who it's for

Primarily children and younger learners, and also a supplemental resource for educators, youth programs, community organizations, and families.

Educational scope

SMILE is educational, not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed dental professional for individual guidance.

Vision

We want oral-health education to be something every child can access, understand, and carry with them throughout life. Have you smiled today?

Research

Why we research

Understanding pain, access, supplies, and stigma helps us decide where the STREET and SMILE programs should go next. Our anonymous survey and published studies guide that work.

The need, by the numbers

57%of older homeless adults in an Oakland study were missing at least half their teeth
55%reported mouth pain in the past 6 months
29%said oral pain kept them from eating (21% said from sleeping)
54%could not get the dental care they needed
40%had not seen a dentist in over 5 years
~1 in 2homeless adults using Health Care for the Homeless sites had an unmet dental need
23%of homeless veterans in one study had dental care in the prior 6 months
58%of adults at a Los Angeles community project had untreated cavities
32%of Toronto shelter residents studied saw a dentist in the past year
80%of people surveyed in London were fairly or very concerned about their dental health

What these numbers tell us

Pain, missing teeth, and unmet need are far too common for people without stable housing, and stigma, cost, and access get in the way. Street Smiles exists to change that, one street at a time.

About these figures

They come from published studies of specific groups and places, not national averages: UCSF HOPE HOME Study (Oakland, CA); a national Health Care for the Homeless study; a homeless veterans study (APHA); a Los Angeles community health project (PubMed); a Toronto shelter study (Homeless Hub); and a London study (BMC Public Health, 2023). Please check the original studies before citing them.

Administration

Authorized access only

Sign in with your administrator email and password.

Smile Survey

Learn

Street Smiles instructional game

App not showing? Open it in a new tab

How to brush your teeth

  1. Wet your toothbrush and add a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste (a rice-grain amount for children under 3).
  2. Angle the bristles toward the gumline.
  3. Brush gently in small circles. Spend about 30 seconds on each quarter of your mouth: upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left.
  4. Clean the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces of every tooth.
  5. Gently brush your tongue.
  6. Spit out the extra toothpaste. Skip rinsing with water so the fluoride keeps working.
  7. Brush twice a day, and replace your brush about every 3 months.
2:00

General education only. Please consult a licensed dental professional for personal guidance.

Help & Resources

Go to an ER or call 911 if you have

  • Swelling in your face or neck
  • Trouble breathing or swallowing
  • Fever with severe tooth pain
  • Bleeding in your mouth that will not stop
  • Injury to the face or jaw

Oral care supplies from Street Smiles

Our STREET Program distributes oral care kits and supplies. Message us on Instagram, @street.smilesil, to ask about kits and upcoming drives.

Call 211

A free helpline connecting you to local dental clinics, food, shelter, transportation, and benefits. Available in most areas.

Community health centers

Dental care on a sliding scale based on income, even without insurance. Search findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

Dental schools

Supervised students offer care at lower cost. Search for dental schools near you and ask about screening days.

Free clinics and events

Look up Mission of Mercy events, Dental Lifeline Network, and local free clinics. Many offer first-come, first-served days, so arrive early.

Paying for care

  • Medicaid dental benefits differ by state. Ask a caseworker or call 211 about what you qualify for.
  • Ask any clinic about sliding-scale fees, payment plans, or discounts.
  • Ask for a written cost estimate before treatment.

Finding a dentist

Use a licensed dentist you can reach. The American Dental Association and your state dental society both have find-a-dentist tools, and your county health department can point you to low-cost options.

Your first visit

  • Bring any ID or paperwork you have, but ask what is truly required. Many clinics can help if you have none.
  • Tell the dentist about pain, medicines, and health conditions.
  • You can ask questions, ask for a break, and say no to anything you are unsure about.

Comfort until you can be seen

  • Rinse gently with warm salt water.
  • Avoid very hot, cold, or sugary foods and drinks.
  • Keep brushing the other teeth gently.
  • This is not a treatment. A licensed professional must check ongoing pain.

You deserve respect

Care should be free of judgment about your housing, income, or background. If you are treated unfairly, you can ask to speak with a manager or try a different clinic.

For educators and families

Use the Learn page as a short group activity, and pair it with a visit to a licensed dental professional.