By Smile, California on

Dear Partners,
 
The school year is underway, and Smile, California is excited to launch the 2026 Back-Tooth-School (BTS) promotion bringing new resources, messaging, and tools you can share with families in your community.

This year’s theme, “Healthy Smiles Make the Grade,” highlights the important connection between oral health and a child’s ability to learn, focus, and thrive in school. Our report card-inspired materials make it easy to link healthy habits with confidence and school readiness.

We look forward to collaborating with you to support school-age children across the state. Strong oral health habits can help reduce missed school days, improve self-esteem, and keep students engaged in the classroom.

Medi-Cal Dental covers two dental check-ups each year for members. Encourage families to take advantage of these preventive visits to help children maintain A+ smiles all year long.

Together, we can help kids stay healthy, confident, and ready to learn all school year long. Keep reading to access the new BTS resources.

2026 BTS Resources
 The Smile, California BTS promotion has an array of resources to help you connect with school-age children and families in your community. These materials reinforce key messages about oral health and school readiness and highlight the importance of preventive care through Medi-Cal Dental coverage. They can be used to educate and inform members from kindergarten through high school.

Click the links below to view and download materials for use in your outreach efforts.

View and Download our Newest BTS Resources:

  • NEW Smile, California Healthy Smiles Make the Grade: This flyer promotes Medi‑Cal Dental’s preventive care benefits and encourages parents to build strong daily oral health habits for children. It highlights key actions such as brushing, flossing, choosing healthy drinks, and establishing a regular dental home, while reminding families that children can receive free dental check‑ups twice a year covered by Medi-Cal Dental.
  • Email Signature Banners: Easy-to-use banners partners and providers can add to their email to help spread awareness of oral health, preventive care, and Medi-Cal Dental coverage, while encouraging families to prioritize school readiness.
  • Virtual Meeting Backgrounds: Branded backgrounds that partners and providers can use during virtual meetings, webinars, and community conversations to keep oral health and school readiness top of mind.
  • Website Banner: A ready-to-post banner partners and providers can place on their websites to highlight the connection between healthy smiles and school success, drive engagement, and direct families to learn more about Medi-Cal Dental benefits and resources.
  • Social Media Images and Captions: Check out our Social Media Gallery on SmileCalifornia.org to download six new ready-to-use graphics and captions. Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @SmileOnCalifornia and Facebook @SmileCalifornia
  • Jasmin Goes to the Dentist Booklet and Supporting Activity Sheet: Download and share this engaging story that shows children what to expect during a dental visit. It helps reduce fear, build confidence, and encourage positive oral health habits like regular check-ups and daily brushing supporting healthy smiles and school readiness.
  • Show Up with a Smile Zine (Youth Resource for Ages 14-18): A youth-focused zine for teens that highlights the importance of oral health as part of overall well-being. Through relatable, engaging content, it encourages teens to build strong daily habits, understand the connection between dental care and confidence, and take charge of their own health.
  • Additional Medi-Cal Dental and Oral Health and School Readiness Resources:

We hope you’ll join us to learn how you can bring this promotion to life and help ensure children and teens across California are ready to learn with confident, healthy smiles.

Watch the 2026 BTS Webinar Coming Soon

If you were unable to attend the September 2 webinar, be on the lookout for the webinar recording, coming soon. The recording will provide an overview of this year's materials, available resources, and ways to support Back-Tooth-School outreach efforts in your community.

Co-Brand With Smile, California

Local Oral Health Programs (LOHPs), select non-profits, and state organizations can add their logo to Smile, California materials at no cost to support outreach efforts in your communities. Co-branding allows you to customize select resources with your organization’s logo for use in digital communications, printed materials, and community events helping extend trusted, consistent messaging about oral health and Medi-Cal Dental. To request organic co-branding, click here. Please allow 5 – 7 business days for your request to be reviewed.

Have an Upcoming Event?
The Smile, California Team Can Help!

Smile, California Member Outreach Representatives are available to help bring your events to life. Whether you are hosting a class, presentation, or community event, our representatives can:

  • Present or co-present to your audience
  • Table at your organization
  • Provide Medi-Cal Dental materials
  • Answer questions about covered services
  • Help families find a dentist near them

📧 Email [email protected] with event details, and we will connect you with your local representative.


Thank you for helping Medi-Cal members of all ages start the school year with healthy, confident smiles. We’re excited to see how you use these resources to support Medi-Cal families and help students succeed throughout the school year.
 

Stay Connected with Smile, California
We'd love to see how you're using Smile, California resources. Share photos or posts on Facebook (@SmileCalifornia) and Instagram (@SmileOnCalifornia) tag us and use the hashtag #SmileCalifornia for a chance to be featured on our accounts!   

Do you need ready-to-use content for your channels? Our Social Media Gallery offers English and Spanish posts featuring dental tips, Medi-Cal Dental benefits, and oral health reminders. Download and share them with your community!

Also, remind your community about the Medi-Cal Dental Member Handbook, available in 19 languages. This comprehensive guide explains dental benefits, how to access care, and the resources available to members. Click here to access the Medi-Cal Dental Member Handbook.    

If you have questions about the resources mentioned or the Smile, California campaign, simply respond to this email or contact us at [email protected].   

To get in touch with a Member or Provider Outreach Representative, you can also email [email protected]. Want to know who represents your county for Smile, California outreach? Click here to access the Member and Provider Outreach Map to connect with your local representative. 
 
Smile On,
The Smile, California Team

URL
https://smilecalifornia.org/oral-health-and-school-readiness/?ct=tEMAIL_CAMPAIG…