Some lucky kids are now smiling a little wider in the wake of meeting two special characters who visited their schools as part of Delta Dental of South Carolina’s Land of Smiles® show.
The popular touring educational program focuses on instilling good oral and overall health habits at a young age. Most recently, more than 360 children from East Elementary and Lake View Elementary participated in the unique program that features the Land of Smiles®, where Delta Dental’s Tooth WizardSM battles his arch enemy PlaqueManSM for the health of teeth everywhere.
During the performances, excited volunteers from the audience dressed up as teeth and helped Tooth WizardSM demonstrate the art of flossing and rinsing with mouthwash, as they squealed under a surprise bucket full of swishing streamers. The pair’s antics excited the children about brushing and flossing properly and visiting Tooth Wizard’s best friend, the dentist. This highly entertaining and interactive program provides a fun learning environment to help the message of good oral and overall health habits resonate with students.
Through the program, the children learn the following tips to help keep their teeth and bodies healthy:
* Brush twice daily for two minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste;
* Floss once daily to remove plaque, a major cause of both tooth decay and gum disease;
* Eat a healthy diet, limit sugary and high refined carbohydrate foods and drinks;
* Drink tap water (preferably fluoridated) instead of sugary sports drinks, colas or fruit juices;
* Get regular dental check-ups, and
* Exercise daily.
“Children are our future, and we’re committed to helping them start good habits at a young age to prevent tooth decay as they grow up,” stated Spann Laffitte, vice president of sales and account management at Delta Dental of South Carolina. Laffitte added, “Tooth decay is the leading chronic infectious disease among children in our nation, and it is 100 percent preventable.”
To help the children put what they learned from the program into action, each child was sent home with a “smile bag” from Delta Dental, packed with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, an educational coloring sheet and a mirror decal, reminding them to brush twice daily. Additionally, the school received a Healthy Smiles Toolkit that provides a curriculum guide with six lessons and activities that teachers can use in the classroom to reinforce the oral health messages of the Land of Smiles® show. The toolkit also includes a large mouth model and toothbrush, children’s books, a sing-a-long CD and a Land of Smiles® DVD.
The program was launched in South Carolina in 2014, and is offered free of charge to the schools. This year, the cast is visiting more than 120 schools across the state, positively impacting the lives of more than 31,000 children.
Those interested in having the award-winning Land of Smiles® program visit their child’s school can ask their child’s teacher, principal or school nurse to visit www.LandofSmiles Program.org, or call 888-383-0008.
To learn more about Delta Dental of South Carolina, visit www.DeltaDentalSC.com.
