ProBiora Health to sponsor bike event benefiting oral health

Oral care probiotics company ProBiora Health is sponsoring a cross-country bike ride to benefit Smile For a Lifetime, a nonprofit organization that matches children who need orthodontic treatment with dental professionals willing to donate care.

The idea of the cross-country ride was conceived by two California dentists who had always wanted to do a cross-country cycling trip. They decided that if they were going to make the trip, they might as well raise funds to help cover oral surgery, orthodontia, and other necessary procedures to children with misaligned teeth whose families can't afford care.

The two dentists and two additional cyclists will begin their ride on Saturday, September 12, at the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles, the start of the historic Route 66. The team plans to end the journey in mid- to late-October in Virginia Beach.

ProBiora Health took the dentists up on the offer to sponsor the trip to raise funds and awareness for need-based orthodontia. The Florida-based company's probiotics contain ProBiora3, a patented strain of bacteria that helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease -- which is especially important for people in orthodontic treatment.

Smile For a Lifetime is also still accepting corporate sponsorships and donations per mile. All funds will go to orthodontic treatment for in-need children, according to the nonprofit.