From bicuspids to braces, tomorrow, Canadore College’s Dental Hygiene students will be working alongside registered dental hygienists to provide free oral care to the public as a part of a nation-wide campaign. The Gift From the Heart campaign was founded in the spirit of registered dental hygienists giving back to the community at no cost. Services are provided to clients who may not otherwise be able to afford or get access to dental care. Third-year Dental Hygiene students, staff and faculty are volunteering with a local dentist and 11 registered dental hygienists from the community in order to provide free services to over 30 pre-booked clients.“There is a concrete link between overall health and oral health,” said Shandra Hummel, professor of the Dental Hygiene program. “It’s not just cosmetic. Taking care of your teeth and gums can reduce the risk of debilitating illnesses like diabetes as well as respiratory and heart disease.”Students regularly offer free oral services to the general public in Canadore’s in-house dental hygiene clinic as a part of their skills training over three years. There are over 12,000 registered dental hygienists practicing in Ontario, making it the third largest health-care profession in the province.