Delta Dental of Illinois Foundations’ Land of Smiles® Program Tackles Childhood Tooth Decay in Illinois
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Jan. 26, 2024) – Tooth decay remains the leading chronic disease affecting children, and the statistics in Illinois are particularly alarming. Research shows that 22% of Illinois third graders have untreated cavities.1 The Land of Smiles program is part of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s steadfast effort to address and curb tooth decay in children.
This free, dynamic educational program aims to empower pre-kindergarten through third grade children with essential oral health habits. The program is designed not just to educate, but also to entertain. Characters like Captain Super Grin, Terri Tooth Fairy, Toothpick, and their playful nemesis, Caz Cavity, captivate young audiences while delivering important messages about oral hygiene, nutrition, and regular dental check-ups.
Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s Land of Smiles program tours twice a year, partnering with various Illinois elementary schools along the way. The program has reached 573,352 students at 1,034 Illinois elementary schools over the past 14 years.
In the first half of 2024, it is reaching over 25,000 pre-kindergarten through third-grade students in more than 100 Illinois schools. Every student at a Land of Smiles performance receives a kit with a free toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, along with bilingual oral health tips outlining how students should care for their teeth.
Learn more about the Foundation and its Land of Smiles program at https://www.landofsmilesil.org/.
1 Illinois Department of Public Health Healthy Smiles Healthy Growth Survey, 2018-2019.
About Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation was formed in March 2008 by Delta Dental of Illinois, a not-for-profit dental service corporation with a mission to improve the oral health of the communities it serves. Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of Delta Dental of Illinois and works to support and improve the oral health of people in Illinois. In the past decade, combined efforts of Delta Dental of Illinois and Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation have provided more than $30 million to programs and organizations in Illinois that improve the oral health of the residents of Illinois.