10/17/2026
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) has created the Bullying Bites program. This coming legislative season, Bullying Bites highlights the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA). This legislation would help ensure coverage of medically necessary treatment for kids with cranial facial anomalies affecting the teeth, eyes, mouth, jaw, or ears. The message of the the ELSA Act is this: Every child deserves access, acceptance, and the confidence to smile without fear! So how can you guys help? Glad you asked! You can help ensure that ELSA crosses the legislative finish line by calling our state reps and passing on this information to them! The more people that call, the higher importance it becomes! And finally, be sure to tell your friends and family how important they are; Bullying comes in a wide range of cases and you never know if someone you love is feeling down about themselves. If you see someone being bullied always report it!
