News and Events

Thu. Aug 02, 2007

Delta Dental Provides Toothbrushes and More To Over 18,000 Idaho School Children

The Most Common Childhood Disease Can Be Prevented

April 25, 2007

Cavities are the most common childhood disease – five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever, according to a Surgeon General report. Nationally, over 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related illness. The good news is that childhood tooth decay can be prevented, and Delta Dental of Idaho is helping children across the state “Brush Well and Be Well.”

As part of Delta Dental’s Community Outreach “Brush Well, Be Well” program, over 18,000 elementary school children in nearly 75 schools across the state will receive a toothbrush, two-minute timer, and bi-lingual education booklet within the next week.

“Good dental health is important to a child’s development and may affect their long-term health. It is our goal to provide tools and information to children and parents to help educate and encourage healthy dental habits. Children learn by watching and imitating their parents, and they (parents) play the most important role in helping to prevent cavities,” says Lisa Reed, Delta Dental Community Outreach Manager.

The Brush Well, Be Well booklet contains tooth brushing tips, information about smart snack choices, and dental sealants, a plastic coating placed on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to help prevent cavities. The booklet also contains fun activities for children, including a word search puzzle and coloring page.

The packets of toothbrushes, timers, and education booklets are being distributed to Idaho schools serving the greatest number of low-income families. Low-income children suffer twice as much dental caries (cavities) as children from more affluent households and their disease is more likely to go untreated, according to the Surgeon General’s report.

As a non-profit organization, Delta Dental’s community outreach efforts include multiple programs that focus on education and preventive treatment for all Idahoans, with and without dental coverage. Delta Dental Community Outreach was established as part of Delta Dental of Idaho’s commitment to promote better oral health throughout the state.

For more information about the schools receiving toothbrushes in your area, please contact Kym Browning at (208) 489-3564.

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