Smile for Smile
SMILE FOR SMILE
Cocofloss Donation Program
OUR MISSION
Cocofloss is dedicated to making oral care fun, but we’re serious when it comes to sharing healthy smiles. Our female co-founders, Chrystle and Cat Cu, founded the Cocofloss Smile for Smile Donation Program as a way of supporting a community near and dear to their hearts — women experiencing homelessness and taking refuge from unstable or unsafe conditions.
OUR GOAL
Give free access to oral-healthcare supplies by giving away free Cocofloss dental floss to women’s shelters and safe houses throughout Cocofloss’s home state of California.
FLOSSING IS HEALTH CARE
Among all vulnerable populations, the homeless population probably has the least access to health services, including dental care. While virtually all would qualify for Medi-Cal, it’s more complicated than it appears on paper. Even if a homeless person has the tools to figure out enrollment (an oftentimes challenging process), they likely have no money, no permanent residence, and no means of transportation — a logistical obstacle that can prevent them from actually seeking out the ongoing care they need.
Oral disease and tooth loss have a significant impact on health and quality of life, associated not only an increased risk of certain illnesses — and even death — but also with difficulty obtaining and retaining employment.
SOME STATS
According to the ACOG (American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology), women and families represent the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
In Los Angeles county alone, the DWC (Downtown Women’s Center) discovered there was a 41% increase in homeless women from 2013 to 2019.
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014 data, 60.4% of adults below 100% of the federal poverty level experienced periodontal disease.
Barriers to oral health care include lack of access to a dentist, oral-health tools like toothbrushes, toothpaste, nutritious foods, and clean water.
WHERE WE SHARE COCOFLOSS
We can’t solve the big-picture problems of homelessness and health-care, but sending a free supply of Cocofloss to women in need puts the power of oral care and sense of self-efficacy back in these women’s hands.
