From April 1 to 30, the general public and the dental community can improve lives with a simple bubble.

The 2017 Bubble Gum Challenge @oralcancerblows features individuals and dental practices utilizing social media to post pictures and videos of themselves blowing bubbles for those who cannot. Created by Oral Cancer Cause, Inc. (OCC), a non-profit organization that is celebrating its fifth year of improving the lives of oral cancer patients and their families, the Challenge is a whimsical way to draw attention to a devastating disease with a 50 percent mortality rate.

OCC hopes that the Challenge will highlight the impacts of oral cancer and the fact that many survivors lose various functionalities, including the ability to chew gum or blow a bubble.

Oral cancer kills one American every hour and 60,000 individuals are diagnosed annually. Along with promoting oral cancer awareness, the Bubble Gum Challenge seeks to raise donations for patients and their families to ease the financial strain of treatments and help them focus on their fight against cancer.  All proceeds will be allocated to families struggling through diagnosis and treatment.

Want to help?

• Dentists can support and promote at their practices. Supplies are limited to 1,000 boxes for dental practice use, so OCC suggests ordering now to be one of the top practices of 2017 participating.Event Box (shown) Registration: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/916577/register/

• Individuals can donate directly: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/916577/donate/

• Individuals can Text to Give:Text keyword Bubble to 50155 and follow prompts to complete donation with OCC partner QGiv.

Sponsors of the Second Annual Bubble Gum Challenge, including Benco Dental, Care Credit and Revenue Well aim to increase public awareness of oral cancer and help cancer patients through financial support.

“Oral cancer patients and their families face many trials throughout treatments that can make it difficult to focus on recovery,” said Linda Miles, CSP, who co-founded OCC with Robin Morrison in memory of two family members who lost their battles with oral cancer.

“Benco Dental, Care Credit and Revenue Well’s sponsorship of the Bubble Gum Challenge helps us accomplish our goal of enhancing the quality of life for oral cancer patients through awareness and support.”

Amber Young, Oral Cancer Survivor, and Linda Miles recently educated members of The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH) as to why it’s vital for dentists or as Miles describes them “physicians of the mouth,”can increase awareness in their practices/offices.

Take a few moments to hear Amber explain how a dentist changed her life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD4521j68_A&t=7s