Showing off a dazzling white smile comes at no small cost, but on Friday, some Michiana dentists did their part to promote good oral health by providing free dental care to low-income kids in our area.

It was all part of the annual Give Kids a Smile Day, a nationwide effort through the American Dental Association that provides struggling families with dental check-ups for their children at no cost.

Twelve local dental offices participate in the yearly event, giving hundreds of kids free exams, cleanings, x-rays, and fillings.

They also taught parents that making sure their kids have a proper diet is just as important as making them brush their teeth.

Dr. Daniel Klauer from Mahoney Family Dentistry says, “A lot of the kids who are eating a lot of the sugars and snacking a lot on the fruit snacks and candy are the ones with a lot of cavities, so diet is just as important as brushing and actually mechanically cleaning the teeth.”

This is the ninth year for the free dental care program.