ABOUT US

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The mission of Traveling Toothbrushes is to educate children in developing countries about the importance of oral hygiene and provide them with dental supplies. Good dental hygiene enables improved overall health, proper nutrition, and bright SMILES. 

The summer of 2014, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to take part in a medical mission trip in Roatán Honduras. I worked in a pediatric clinic while I was there. Soon after my arrival, I began to realize the extreme need for oral hygiene education. In the clinic, nearly every child’s mouth had cavities and one boy’s teeth were rotted to the gums. I knew I wanted to do something to help these children. It seemed like the perfect project because I had already taken donations of toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss received from a few local dentists.  I made posters with step-by-step instructions in Spanish on how to brush your teeth and hung them up in the clinic.  Then, I taught the children that came into the clinic how to brush their teeth and gave them a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. 

After spending a month in Roatán and teaching the children how to brush their teeth, it became apparent that oral hygiene is a huge problem world wide and I want to do what I can to change that. Once I returned home the organization Traveling Toothbrushes was established. 

Each Traveling Toothbrush packages includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, and instruction card with visual and written steps to brushing your teeth. Depending on donations, other oral hygiene supplies may be included. 

I graduated from Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where I pursued this dream in conjunction with my senior project. I am happy to report this project has extended well beyond my senior year of high school. I received my undergraduate and masters degrees from Saint Louis University. I am currently practicing as an occupational therapist in Omaha, NE. I continue to solicit donations and send packages to Roatán as this is something I am passionate about and want to continue providing assistance to a community and cause that is near too my heart.