In a groundbreaking moment for public health advocacy and international development, Jean Paul Laurent, a name now synonymous with innovation and perseverance in global health, has officially made history.
At the 2025 ECOSOCYouth Forum, Laurent hosted the first-ever United Nations side event solely dedicated to oral health—a milestone decades in the making. The event, titled “No Health Without Oral Health: Advancing Youth-Led Solutions for Global Well-Being,” sent a resounding message across the halls of the UN and beyond: oral health is not a luxury—it is a human right.
This was not just an event. It was a legacy in motion.
From Audacity to Advocacy: A Decade in the Making
Rewind to 2014. A young Jean Paul Laurent stood on the global stage as a delegate speaker at the United Nations’ largest youth gathering. In a world where oral health was absent from conversations around sustainable development, he presented a daring idea: oral health matters—and it deserves a place on the global agenda.
What followed was a journey marked by resistance, resilience, and relentless belief. While many dismissed oral health as secondary, Laurent saw its ripple effect—how it intersects with non-communicable diseases, poverty, mental health, school attendance, and long-term economic opportunity. His voice carried beyond the podium and began planting seeds for a global movement.
But Laurent didn’t stop at speaking—he mentored more than 400 young changemakers from countries as diverse as China, Kenya, Seychelles, Kurdistan Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti, to name just a few. From training future leaders in health diplomacy to helping grassroots advocates scale their impact, Laurent’s influence transcended borders and disciplines.
Today, many of those very mentees are driving policy, launching nonprofits, and leading social enterprises in their own countries—all inspired by that singular idea: that even the most overlooked issue can become a catalyst for global change.
Powered by Unspoken Smiles
At the heart of this historic achievement lies Unspoken Smiles, the nonprofit founded by Laurent to advance oral health equity around the world. What began as a small idea from Haiti’s earthquake tragedy has now evolved into a globally recognized movement, combining preventive dental care, education, and sustainability.
Through Unspoken Smiles, Laurent pioneered a model of community-based prevention, training local youth as oral health fellows, delivering essential hygiene education in underserved schools, and distributing eco-conscious oral care products to children who need them most.
The organization doesn’t just provide services—it builds infrastructure, agency, and hope. And now, with oral health officially on the agenda at the UN General Assembly later this year, that hope is backed by policy, visibility, and international will.
A Trailblazer of Firsts
Jean Paul Laurent’s groundbreaking journey is defined by a powerful legacy of “firsts” that reflect his bold leadership and transformative vision:
- In 2020, his infectious smile reached millions of Americans when he was selected as the Smile with Lay’s national campaign winner. His face appeared on Lay’s potato chip bags across the country—turning a moment of recognition into a movement for joy and positive impact.
- In 2022, he made history again by being invited to ring the NASDAQ Opening Bell in New York City, a prestigious honor reserved for pioneers who are shifting narratives and inspiring social innovation through business.
- In 2023, Laurent achieved a monumental milestone as the first Black man in the world to be granted a U.S. patent for an eco-friendly toothbrush design—redefining sustainability and access in oral care.
- In 2025, his vision will materialize with the launch of the world’s first fully preventive and green dental clinic in Costa Rica—offering sustainable, community-centered dental care as a model for global replication.
- Also in 2025, Laurent will open the doors to the Museum of Smile, the first cultural institution of its kind dedicated to the intersection of art, health, and human connection—further solidifying his commitment to a future where oral health is not just medical, but cultural.
From smiles on chip bags to smiles in remote classrooms, Jean Paul Laurent has forged a legacy where every “first” is a foundation for a better, more equitable world. Every one of these “firsts” echoes a broader truth: oral health is no longer hidden in the shadows of public health conversations. Thanks to Laurent, it’s stepping into the spotlight.
Changing the Conversation at ECOSOCYouth
At the 2025 ECOSOCYouth Forum, Laurent brought together policymakers, scientists, and youth leaders in an electrifying conversation around the science of prevention and the social inclusion that oral health demands. The event wasn’t just a celebration—it was a reckoning with how far we’ve come, and how much farther we need to go.
It’s rare to witness a moment when an idea that once felt impossible is suddenly embraced by the world’s most powerful institutions. This was that moment.
What once began as a dream shared from a youth delegate’s seat has now evolved into a global movement—one that’s reshaping health equity, education, and opportunity from the ground up.
Jean Paul Laurent didn’t just bring oral health to the UN—he gave it a seat at the table, a voice in the conversation, and a permanent place in the future of global development.
This isn’t just a victory.
It’s history in the making.
