Already Spring Primary School students have recently learned healthy dental care habits.
Delta Dental of Missouri’s popular, award-winning dental education program Land of Smiles is underway, according to a press release. The program brings the crusade for healthy teeth to 16,000 youth at 75 schools across the state. One of their stops was Reeds Spring Primary School, where they taught good dental habits to 235 students in kindergarten through third grade.
The Land of Smiles follows superhero Captain Super Grin as he defeats his nemesis Caz Cavity. Captain Super Grin gets help from his sidekicks Terri Tooth Fairy and Toothpick. The program teaches students the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day, flossing, using mouthwash, eating a healthy diet and going to the dentist regularly. It includes an oral health curriculum that meets National Health Education Standards, as well as Missouri standards.
“It includes engaging, age-appropriate materials to make learning about dental health fun for kids and includes activity sheets, now also available in Spanish,” the release reads. “Delta Dental of Missouri also provides free smile bags to schools for students participating in the program. Each bag contains a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss to help students put into practice the good oral health habits they’ve learned.”
President and Chief Executive Officer of Delta Dental of Missouri, Rob Goren, said the program is designed to be fun and educational for children.
“Our vibrant Land of Smiles show makes learning about dental health really fun for kids, but most importantly, it’s memorable,” Goren said. “Tests before and after the show show that students show an average of 35% more oral health and knowledge after seeing a performance. And that is the positive outcome we all want.”
Since its inception in the fall of 2002, Delta Dental of Missouri’s Land of Smiles® program has taught more than 1.1 million children how to care for their growing smiles through more than 4,800 on-site performances at schools in 113 counties in Missouri, and through its online version. The Land of Smiles® experience is offered to schools at no cost, courtesy of Delta Dental of Missouri.
Local teachers, school nurses and principals are invited to email [email protected] to request an in-person live show for the fall semester, or visit www.LandofSmilesMO.org to access the online program on a date and time that works this spring for their students.
For more information, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.