In August 2003, Lt Governor Quinn began a statewide, community-based campaign to promote oral health as an integral part of overall health to increase efforts to prevent oral disease and to improve access to oral health care for all. He joined a national event, Tour de Smiles, a trans-America bike relay designed to raise awareness about dental problems in children.

Lt. Governor Quinn's leadership on this issue helped secure the passage of House Bill 752, requiring a dental exam for all Kindergartners, second and sixth graders in public or private schools. The mandate will increase awareness of oral health needs among children in Illinois, and promote school-based oral health care as a viable solution.

In October 2004, Quinn helped launch "Healthy Smiles Week" for rural and inner-city communities. More than 1,000 children, many for the first time, received preventive care through events sponsored by the state dental schools, IFLOSS Coalition, Covering Kids & Families, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Dental Society and Oral Health America.

For his tireless advocacy of oral health, Lt. Governor Quinn was honored as the Oral Health America Advocate of the Year in 2005.