Public voting is open until 10 a.m. Friday, March 8, for this year’s Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention School Oral Health Program Poster Contest.

The initiative raises awareness about good oral health for school-age children in Maine and coincides with National Children’s Dental Health Month in February. This year’s theme was “Healthy Habits for Healthy Smiles.”

Voting takes place in four separate categories based on grade: Preschool through kindergarten, grades first through second, grades third through fourth, and grades fifth through sixth.

Anyone can vote on their favorite posters per category through the following Survey Monkey link; winners will be announced March 9 at surveymonkey.com.

Names of students and any identifying features were removed from the posters.

In February, Maine public schools received information about the poster contest for students to create an illustrated poster on what oral health means to them. Winners will receive a prize that includes an electronic toothbrush, floss, reading material and toothpaste.

Routine preventive care is essential in helping children avoid tooth decay and addressing it quickly once it starts. If untreated, dental disease can affect the child’s overall health and potentially follow them into adulthood. Forty-five percent of Maine children experienced dental cavities by the third grade in 2019, and only 40% of children with MaineCare received any preventive dental care in 2022.

Learn more about this initiative at mcd.org.

Check out other upcoming area events!