Cassopolis Family Clinic Network is taking part in Children’s Dental Health Month by spreading awareness and the importance of oral health in February.

Concentrating on three local public school systems, 6,400 total students in Cassopolis, Brandywine and Niles will have received a dental pack delivered by Crest’s Sparkleman himself by the end of this year’s program.

Each dental pack includes an age appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste, floss and information on CFCN.

For pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, students will find a fun activity book, stickers and bookmark donated by Crest to help educate them on the importance of brushing their teeth. For grades 7-12, Patterson Dental donated a fun informational brochure on how to properly care for their teeth.

The program, which has been ongoing since 2011, originally focused on the students of Cassopolis Public Schools. However, when CFCN opened the Niles Community Health Center, the organization expanded the program to include Niles schools as well.

The purpose of the program is to share the importance of oral health as it correlates to overall health.

“Good oral health is important to overall health and wellbeing,” said Mary Geegan Middleton, CEO of CFCN. “This project started six years ago simply to increase awareness of the importance of good oral healthcare for students in Cassopolis Public Schools. Now having expanded to include Niles Community Schools and Niles Brandywine, CFCN is providing free oral health kits to almost 6,400 kids.

“It’s a small gesture really, to give toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss to children. But if it helps educate them about taking good care of their teeth so they can be healthy, it is the right thing to do.”

The CFCN handed out 1,400 dental products to students at Brandywine Community Schools Tuesday.

The CFCN will do the same thing at Niles Community Schools later this week.

The effort comes just months before the CFCN plans to open a new dental clinic in Niles in September serving people who are covered by Michigan Medicaid or do not have dental insurance.