Local students learn about dental health

SIKESTON -- More than 300 school children in Scott and New Madrid counties learned the importance of brushing their teeth and overall health habits during a visit from a tooth wizard, fairy and plaque man. Delta Dental of Missouri's Tooth Wizard, Tooth Fairy and Plaqueman presented Land of Smiles, an entertaining educational program that targets school-aged children. The characters' goal is to inspire children to adopt good oral and overall health habits. Tooth decay is the leading chronic infectious disease among children in the United States. However, tooth decay is also nearly 100 percent preventable, according to Delta Dental of Missouri. The show's cast of characters visiting local schools, teaching students the importance of brushing and flossing properly, visiting the dentist, eating right, exercising daily and making healthy choices. The program is interactive and continues to receive great reviews, as well as high scores in follow up surveys of the kids. Each child is sent home with a "smile bag" from Delta Dental, packed with a toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, container of floss, an educational coloring sheet and a mirror decal reminding them to brush twice daily. After the show, the school receives a Healthy Smiles Toolkit that provides a curriculum guide with six lessons and activities 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. This program is provided free of charge to schools. Delta Dental is the dental benefits leader in Missouri and the U.S. Ninety-four percent of Missouri dentists participate in a Delta Dental network and 4 out of 5 dentists participate nationally. In Missouri, more than 1.6 million members in nearly 1,700 companies, large and small, choose Delta Dental. Nationally, nearly 1 in 3 families with dental benefits choose Delta Dental - 56 million members from nearly 96,000 companies. Delta Dental is also committed to improving the oral health and overall health of the children in our community and therefore proudly supports the Delta Dental Land of Smiles educational touring theater program, HealthWorks! Kids' Museum St. Louis and Give Kids A Smile.