Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation helps students succeed with lessons on oral health
Posted on September 19, 2019 in In the Community
As more than 2 million Illinois students1 strive for success both in and out of the classroom this fall, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is helping to ensure that tooth decay doesn’t get in the way of them performing their best.
Tooth Wizard and PlaqueMan will visit Illinois elementary schools as part of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s popular Land of Smiles program. In this fun and interactive program, the two costumed characters will teach kids the correct way to brush, floss and use fluoride rinse. They’ll also talk about the importance of choosing healthy foods and drinks, visiting the dentist regularly and having sealants applied.
Tooth decay can get in the way of students’ attendance, concentration and performance at school. Nearly 40% of Illinois elementary school children miss school because of cavities or other oral health problems.2
A checkup with the dentist is required by law for Illinois students in kindergarten, second, sixth and ninth grade. But it’s also key for students to maintain good oral health habits — such as brushing twice a day and flossing daily — throughout the school year. Education provides the foundation for kids to establish a lifetime of good oral health.
For more information on this program, watch this video or visit the Land of Smiles website.
1 Illinois State Board of Education data library, Illinois Report Card, https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/state.aspx?source=studentcharacteristics&source2=enrollment&Stateid=IL
2 2018 Delta Dental of Illinois Children’s Oral Health Survey, https://www.deltadentalil.com/webres/File/surveys/DDIL-Childrens-Oral-Health-Report-2018.pdf