School for smiles

Imagine being a child for a day. It’s a rainy Sunday in March, and you’re walking through a shopping mall with your mom or dad. Suddenly, you stumble upon a burst of colors, energy, and music—and just like that, your family's weekly grocery list becomes the least interesting thing around. You walk closer, curiosity sparked. There’s so much to see. You approach the first game station and realize you've discovered the “School of Smiles”—and you're about to become a pro at brushing your teeth!

Hard to imagine? Maybe most of us didn’t have the chance to experience something like this growing up—but for many children on March 23rd, 2025, it became a reality.

At Mall Bulgaria in Sofia, a special event took place that changed the way children and parents think about oral hygiene, dental visits, and prevention of the two most common oral diseases—caries and periodontitis. Thanks to DSA-Sofia, the Bulgarian Dental Association (BDA), and the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, this colorful, educational day came to life.

Dozens of dental medicine students led the activities, sharing essential knowledge through games designed especially for kids. The little ones learned how to take care of their teeth while having fun at several interactive stations, including:

• Brushing Practice – Learning to brush correctly on a dental model.
• Dental Art – Drawing fun and educational pictures about oral health.
• Healthy vs. Unhealthy Foods – Sorting foods into “good” and “bad” categories for teeth health using engaging visuals.
• Bacteria Bowling – Knocking down pins representing harmful bacteria, a playful way to understand the fight against tooth decay.
• Be a Dentist – Children dressed up in real scrubs, gloves, and masks and treated plush toy patients with teeth—each becoming a little dentist for the day!

Every child and parent received official materials from the FDI World Dental Federation, as well as custom educational resources prepared by DSA-Sofia and the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and a present from Pierre Fabre Bulgaria.

The goal? To show that caring for your teeth can be easy and fun—and that going to the dentist doesn’t have to be scary. The event was inspiring not only for the children but also for us, the students who took part in it. It was a privilege to be part of something so meaningful.

We believe that through events like this, more children will overcome their fears of dental treatment and take a big step toward prevention and lifelong motivation for oral health.