By Anaika Forbes-Grant, RDH, BSDH, MSDH
February 18, 2026
As dental hygienists, we are often described as the “investigators” of the operatory. We are uniquely positioned to build deep patient relationships, ask probing questions, and leverage our expertise to uncover the vital link between oral and systemic health. However, while we focus on the individuals in our chairs, a staggering global crisis remains: oral diseases impact 3.7 billion people worldwide.
The Global Crisis and the Role of the Dental Team
Oral health is one of the most prevalent and overlooked non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While the mouth is the clinical gateway to the body, it is often fundamentally deprioritized by governments and health systems. Through Colgate-Palmolive’s long standing program, Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF), we are proving that prevention is not just a clinical goal—it is a global imperative.
Reaching the 2 Billion Milestone
A group of youngsters smile on their visit to the BSBF Mobile Dental Van.
I am incredibly proud to highlight a monumental achievement. Since its inception in 1991, the BSBF program has reached approximately 2 billion children and their families in more than 100 countries through oral health and nutrition education and in some countries, dental screenings and treatment referrals. For the children served, the consequences of poor oral health—toothaches and pain—lead directly to issues in focus, increased school absenteeism, and lower academic performance.
By partnering with parents, educators, and health professionals, BSBF provides resources, services and evidence-based education that empowers children to build healthy habits and take control of their health early on. This initiative doesn’t just focus on oral health issues; it addresses the social determinants of health—factors like health literacy and access—that often prevent underserved populations from receiving care.
Transformative Partnerships: From Classrooms to Global Policy
The momentum behind oral health is currently surging at the highest levels of global leadership. Recently, oral health was showcased as a priority at the World Health Assembly and included for the first time in the United Nations’ Political Declaration on NCDs.
To capitalize on this “window of action,” Colgate-Palmolive and the WHO Foundation recently announced a multi-year partnership. This collaboration aims to transform global health through three strategic pillars:
- Scaling Oral Health Education: Integrating core prevention principles into established government infrastructures, such as school health systems.
- Driving Policy and Advocacy: Supporting research to provide Ministries of Health and governments with evidence-based recommendations for including oral health in Universal Health Coverage.
- Increasing Prioritization: Raising the political profile of oral health to ensure it remains a central pillar of the global health agenda.
A child practices brushing on a typodont at a BSBF booth display.
Why This Matters to the Dental Hygiene Community
These global numbers—3.7 billion people affected and 2 billion children and families reached—may seem distant from the daily workflow of a private practice, but they are driven by the work of hygienists everywhere. Whether it is through volunteering on BSBF mobile dental vans during National Dental Hygiene Month or utilizing BSBF’s free educational resources in your local community, you are part of this 2-billion-smile legacy. Click here to get involved!
Our work as preventive specialists is the key to reducing the overall disease burden and enhancing quality of life worldwide. As we celebrate this 2 billion milestone, let it serve as a reminder that every child we educate and every screening we perform contributes to a much larger, global movement.
Together, we are not just cleaning teeth; we are reimagining a healthier future for all—one smile at a time.
Additional Resources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health
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Sources
- Colgate-Palmolive, “Social Impact & Whole-Body Oral Health Narrative,” data on file, 2023.
- World Health Organization, “Oral Health,” accessed September 17, 2025, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health.
- World Economic Forum, The Economic Rationale for a Global Commitment to Invest in Oral Health (Oral Health Affinity Group, 2024), https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Economic_Rationale_for_a_Global_Commitment_to_Invest_in_Oral_Health_2024.pdf.
- C. Dörfer et al., “The Relationship of Oral Health with General Health and NCDs: A Brief Review,” International Dental Journal 67, no. S2 (2017): 14–18, https://doi.org/10.1111/idj.12360.
- S. Kisely, “No Mental Health without Oral Health,” Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 61, no. 5 (2016): 277–82, https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743716632523.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Oral Health Fast Facts,” accessed August 18, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/data-research/facts-stats/.
Images used with permission from the Colgate® Bright Smiles Bright Futures® program.
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Anaika Forbes-Grant, RDH, BSDH, MSDH, joined Colgate-Palmolive in March 2022 and currently serves as the Manager for Community Oral Health. In this role, Anaika champions the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program in North America, overseeing eight mobile van units that deliver crucial oral health education, free dental screenings, and overall well-being services to children and their families across the United States. Anaika’s career is marked by her unwavering dedication to caring for underserved communities. With 18 years of professional experience, she is a clinically trained and licensed dental hygienist. Beyond her clinical expertise, Anaika is a seasoned educator, having formerly taught dental hygiene and dental assisting at New York University. She also holds the position of Executive Director at HashtagLunchbag Brooklyn, a nonprofit organization committed to combating food insecurity and illiteracy in marginalized communities.
Anaika’s academic background is comprehensive and impressive. She earned her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education and Public Health, as well as her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Education, from the prestigious Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Additionally, she holds an Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from the New York City College of Technology. With a deep-rooted passion for public health and community service, Anaika has received numerous accolades for her work. She was honored with the Award for Excellence in Community Service by the New York Dental Hygienists’ Association (NYDHA) in 2024 and received the Impact Award from Colgate-Palmolive Enterprise Oral Care Division in 2023. Her outstanding contributions in dentistry were recognized with the NDA Recognition Award in 2022 and the Denobi Award in 2022. Anaika was also the recipient of the Heart to Hands Award from Phillips and RDH Magazine in 2022, and the Outstanding Community Service Award from the National Council of Negro Women in 2023. In 2025, she was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the International College of Dentists. She became an Honorary Fellow of the International College of Dentists in 2025. Through her professional and volunteer efforts, Anaika continues to make significant contributions to the field of oral health and beyond, demonstrating a profound commitment to public health and community service.
Contact information:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aforbesgrant
Email: [email protected]
