College of Nursing Continues America’s Promise with Toothbrush Drive

The National Institutes of Health estimates about 51 million school hours per year are lost because of dental-related issues.

Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing is working locally to curb some of those lost hours. Nursing students, faculty and staff recently gathered more than 700 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste that will assist nursing students who teach dental education programs in local schools. The effort is just part of the College of Nursing’s collaboration in the America’s Promise Alliance. The two-year project, funded by the State Farm Foundation, has already allowed nursing faculty and students to conduct health fairs in local schools and provide education focused on oral health, healthy eating and exercise. 

“Early tooth loss caused by dental decay can result in serious consequences, everything from failure to thrive and pain to loss of self-esteem. Sadly some children in the United States have died from complications of untreated dental disease,” said Shelly Malin, the Advocate BroMenn Endowed Professor and project leader of the local America’s Promise School Program. “Disease has been related to decreased school performance, poor social relationship and less success later in life.” The toothbrush drive, which lasted for about a month, generated 460 toothbrushes and 314 tubes of toothpaste, which included a large donation from local periodontist Kirk Noraian.

The core team leading the America’s Promise School Project includes members of the College of Nursing faculty and staff. America’s Promise Health Alliance is a national partnership of more than 400 corporations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and advocacy groups committed to making it top priority to ensure all children in the U.S. graduate from high school ready for college, work and life.

According to Malin, the toothbrushes will be used by student nurses who will distribute them while providing education to school children and parent groups. “Having all of these toothbrushes will allow us to have supplies for student nurses as they provide innovative education to children in the schools,” she said.

For additional information on the America’s Promise School Project, call Malin at (309) 438-2203. For additional information about America’s Promise Alliance visit www.americaspromise.org.