Although we are very happy with the excellent results achieved in these 10 years of TdB, we must admit we have just made so little. We have transformed the life of 23 thousand young people? Yes! But it doesn’t solve the problem. Every day, millions of Brazilian live with toothaches (and all that’s related to it).

A problem of this size demands much more than the hard work and effort of volunteers – as much as they already do a huge difference. To change this sad reality it’s indispensable that the public power awakes to the sad reality of Brazilian’s oral health.

And this change must start with us, who feel on our skins the dramas of this toothless country. It is our mission to transform the perception of society over the matter of oral health, promoting access solutions to dental treatments. We must influence and change public politics to act in large scale.

2012 is the year of municipal elections. Thinking of it, we are suggesting a large mobilization for this year. It’s the perfect timing for us to act.

We want to approach directly the candidates of mayor all around Brazil, proposing a pact in favor of oral health. The idea is to present a term of commitment to these candidates in order to morally compromise them to give thorough attention to the oral health, especially, to the healing treatment, and to sanction and implement bills to facilitate the population’s access to dentistry.

For such, we need to treat all with maximum impartiality, even if, in a giving county, a candidate is already a broad favorite, TdB must present the document to all interested. So, no matter who wins, we will have a signed commitment.

Your work is to get in touch with the candidates and their advisors and ensure the signing of the term. As this document doesn’t have legal character, it is necessary that the signature is photographed, in means of reinforcing the commitment. It’s good to ensure the presence of local press to cover the event, which will increase its reverberation.

TdB and Public Politics

For some years, TdB comes trying to impact public politics, expanding the access to oral health for the population. Some counties, by the way, are already mobilized with advanced discussions over the adding of the oral hygiene kit (toothpaste, brush and dental floss) in basic pharmacies/ health center and in the consumer basket, and the granting of tax incentives to dentists that do social character treatment to low income population.

To increase the range of these actions, starting this March, the work in the field of public politics is centered in one person in TdB: Vinicius Cione. This initiative will expand even more the coverage of dentistry treatment, besides the preventive work to avoid chronic problems and/or preserve and already made treatment.

You, who got interested in promoting the Mayor’s Pact in your city, get in touch with him by the phone (11) 5084-7276 or the e-mail vinicius@turmadobem.org.br. He will give full advice so you can mobilize your county.