Community events including this gathering at the Nashua Library offer opportunities for Traveling Tooth Fairies associates, from left, Myra Nikitas, co-founder, Mary Duquette, co-founder and Jennifer Cruz, dental assistant to the Traveling Tooth Fairies, to distribute gifts of toothbrushes, toothpaste and oral health products intended to promote healthy oral care habits. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – Happy smiles — some nearly wide grins — are lighting up the faces of nearly 1,700 young recipients of free, fully sponsored dental care and oral health services, thanks to the nonprofit Traveling Tooth Fairies, founded in 2024 and currently serving students in Nashua.

“The Nashua School District extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Traveling Tooth Fairies and Sealing Smiles Across NH Program for their commitment to student health,” said Dr. Mario Andrade, superintendent of the Nashua School District. “They are making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in the community.”

The program is joyfully led by local dental hygienists Myra Nikitas of Nashua and Mary Duquette of Hopkinton, both longtime public health professionals.

The vital program is made possible through the generous support of its primary funders: Northeast Delta Dental, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the New Hampshire Children’s Foundation, along the Nashua Lions Club, the Rotary Club of Nashua and Nashua’s Hannaford.

The supporters’ unwavering commitment to community health is recognized as empowering Traveling Tooth Fairies to deliver no-cost dental care directly into schools, thus reducing barriers and ensuring brighter, healthier futures for children throughout Nashua.

Traveling Tooth Fairies co-founders Myra Nikitas, left, and Mary Duquette, a pair of professionals who share nearly a half century of experience in public health dental hygiene and oral care for a range of mostly underserved communities, prepare to fulfill their mission of providing their free, fully sponsored dental care services to students of all grade levels within the Nashua School District. Courtesy photo

The Traveling Tooth Fairies recently partnered with Sealing Smiles Across NH (SSANH), a statewide initiative offering in-school dental screenings, fluoride varnishes, sealants, protective restorations and other preventive care.

The activities are intended to promote lifelong dental health for students from pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade — especially those youth who may not have access to preventive care.

Myra Nikitas, a registered dental hygienist, brings to the youngsters 20 years of community practice and experience, along with a certification in public health dental hygiene. She is a former president of the New Hampshire Dental Hygienists Association and has chaired the Dental Hygienists Committee under the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners.

Mary Duquette brings to the enterprise 27 years of dental hygiene experience and a deep passion for serving communities where dental care is often inaccessible due to financial or emotional barriers. Her work with the New Hampshire Oral Care Program helped launch her advocacy for accessible dental care, including care for individuals who have never visited a dentist.

Duquette also is certified as a Public Health Dental Hygienist and currently serves on the Dental Hygienists Committee of the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners. She previously served as president of the NH Dental Hygienists Association.

Local nonprofit Traveling Tooth Fairies co-founders Myra Nikitas, left, and Mary Duquette are attired to bring dental hygiene and oral care education directly to students in Nashua schools, a move that not only comforts the sometimes apprehensive students with a familiar setting but also offers a humorous approach to developing a lifetime of healthy habits for the youngsters in grades K-12. Courtesy photo

Together, Nikitas and Duquette note the mission of Traveling Tooth Fairies is clear: to bridge the gap in children’s access to dental care. They emphasize that many children face financial and logistical obstacles to regular dental visits, so their goal is to bring crucial oral health services directly into schools.

More information about Traveling Tooth Fairies and their programs can be found online at travelingtoothfairies.com.