For One Smile

Good News Good Planet

For more delicious news, go to www.GoodNewsGoodPlanet.com, and scroll to bottom for more ways to find the feel good stuff!* For One Smile Not everyone can afford a beautiful smile. In some countries, dental care is only a dream...as well as a luxury. In Brazil alone, nearly twenty million people have never seen a dentist due to social and economic hardships. Having witnessed these difficulties first hand, a Brazilian man is seeking to improve dental healthcare for the poor, and not just in his own country. Thirty-eight-year-old dentist Filipe Rossi travels the world providing dental care to native populations and villages in poverty. His charity organization, “Por 1 Sorriso”, meaning "for one smile,” provides dental care to thousands of people annually in South America and East Africa. And they do it all for free. The majority of Rossi's work is financed through donations from charities and from private companies, like toothpaste manufacturer Colgate, who has sponsored many of his trips. This generous dentist also raises awareness and funds by sharing before and after photos of his work on social media, showing patients in need of new teeth and their reactions after treatment. The dramatic transformations showcase not just changed smiles, but changed lives as well. Rossi and his thousands of volunteers offer an array of free dental procedures including root canals, cleanings, restorations and emergency dental work. “I didn’t do dentistry to take care of teeth," says Rossi. “But to take care of people. Awakening smiles without a business relationship—just for love— connects us with something bigger.” Improving someone’s teeth improves their lives in a myriad of ways. From social acceptance, to self-confidence and even improved physical health due to being able to eat anything and chew properly. Filipe Rossi and “Por 1 Sorriso” are making the world a better place, one grateful smile at a time. This story brought to you by Arroyo Seco Live. “Building community through creativity. SecoLive.org #### *Hungry for more of the Good Stuff? Search "Good News Good Planet" on YouTube, Instagram, Patreon, Alexa and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.