Dentaid launches Christmas campaign to help vulnerable people smile

Dentaid the Dental Charity is asking for support to help turn this season of caring into a lifetime of smiles as it launches its Christmas fundraising campaign.

The charity is using the festive period to raise funds as it looks to ensure that people experiencing homelessness, hardship and abuse over the cold winter can access  dental care.

Winter can be a challenging time for those most in need who have nowhere to turn to when it comes to accessing urgent care. Toothache can create another problem for those already experiencing health inequalities as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop.

Dentaid is fundraising to help those in vulnerable situations feel able to smile again. For many patients, the treatment provided by Dentaid’s volunteer dentists and dental nurses will be the first they have received in years, in some cases decades.

Part of the charity’s mission is to take their mental health, trauma, addictions and anxiety about seeing dentists into account and provide a safe and welcoming environment for people to get the treatment they need.

Every donation Dentaid receives will go a long way towards helping someone vulnerable to access treatment. Just £10 could help provide them with an oral health pack, while £30 could help them see a dentist this Christmas and £50 could help someone vulnerable become free from oral pain.

The campaign is already off to a great start thanks to the generosity of Working Feedback, who have provided a £1,000 festive donation.

One patient who has experienced homelessness and is a service user of Trinity in Winchester said:

“My teeth are very black and I don’t smile, always sit with my hands over my face and avoid going out because of it.

“I’ve had bad debt issues and I would never go to see someone face to face, if I couldn’t do something over the phone than it wouldn’t get sorted out. I’ve been accused of being a drug user because of my teeth when I’ve never used drugs.

“Before I saw Dentaid it had been 20 years since I last visited a dentist outside of emergency treatment.

“I broke down in tears because it finally feels like I’m getting somewhere, it’s just a big weight off my shoulder. It’s going to do me the world of good, you’ll see me walking around and I won’t be able to stop smiling.”

Philip Molden, Director from Working Feedback said: “This campaign is a great reminder that dentistry isn’t just about treatment; it’s about trust, dignity and hope.

“We’re proud to stand alongside Dentaid in making sure that even the most vulnerable people have a reason to smile this Christmas.”

Your donations will ensure that more people escape the misery of toothache and experience a pain-free Christmas.

To find out more or to donate visit https://www.dentaid.org/.