Ensuring healthy smiles for school districts, students in Illinois

By Karyn Glogowski on March 2, 2022 in Corporate Social Responsibility

When you choose Delta Dental of Illinois, you’re partnering with a dedicated team player. We cover more than one million smiles in Illinois — including over 1/3 of the school districts. Plus, as a not-for-profit, we look out for our communities by providing education, increasing access to dental care and improving oral and overall health. Our school-focused Foundation programs include H2O on the Go, where we install water bottle-filling stations in schools and Land of Smiles, an educational program that teaches students the importance of good oral health habits.

Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s Land of Smiles program began in 2007 and teaches children ages preschool through third grade about good oral health care with a fun and interactive show. Land of Smiles has educated more than 426,000 students at 892 Illinois schools, with participating children receiving a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and oral health tips, too. 

Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s H2O On the Go program, launched in 2020 in partnership with Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation, provides Illinois schools with new water bottle-filling stations to replace existing water fountains. Schools also receive reusable water bottles and toothbrushes for their students. 

Besides supporting overall health and well-being by encouraging students to choose water, the program reduces waste and promotes conservation efforts, as well as helps eliminate germ exposure. One hundred and forty schools have received new water bottle-filling stations, impacting nearly 50,000 Illinois students.

We’re all in on protecting students’ smiles and proud to support the Illinois High School Association as a sponsor. Best of luck to the athletes playing in the Illinois High School State Basketball Tournament this month!