Delta Dental's Land Of Smiles(R) Characters on a Mission to Motivate Mount Pleasant Students to Adopt Healthy Oral Habits

Tooth WizardSM and his archenemy PlaqueManSM have been traveling South Carolina roadways on a mission to motivate South Carolina kids to adopt healthy life habits through a fun, interactive program known as Land of Smiles®. Since Delta Dental of South Carolina premiered its first show in 2014, the actors have reached 29,283 kids through 138 school-based performances. The 2016 Land of Smiles® tour is currently underway with the cast of characters visiting more than 90 schools this spring, including Jennie Moore Elementary and an additional 15 schools in Charleston County.

The schools were visited by Tooth WizardSM as he battles against PlaqueManSM for the health of teeth everywhere. The pair’s fun antics excite the children about brushing and flossing properly and visiting Tooth Wizard’s “best friend,” the dentist. Some lucky volunteers get to dress up as teeth and help Tooth Wizard demonstrate the art of cleaning between teeth with floss and rinsing with mouthwash, as they squeal under a surprise bucket full of swishing streamers. The characters also discuss what foods are good and bad for teeth and overall health, the importance of having fluoride varnishes applied to teeth, exercising daily and making healthy lifestyle choices.

In addition to the performances, the cast comes bearing gifts for the students. Each child is sent home with a “smile bag” from Delta Dental, packed with a toothbrush, toothpaste, 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 resonates with children and has been a real catalyst for change,” commented Spann Laffitte, vice president of sales and account management at Delta Dental of South Carolina. “We conduct pre- and post-show surveys, and results demonstrate that, on average, students have a 35 percent increase in their good oral health knowledge and behavioral intentions after seeing our show. We’ve heard countless positive testimonies from parents touting how excited children are to brush and floss after learning the importance of these simple actions. One child’s enthusiasm led to her brushing her dog’s teeth.”

Teachers have also voiced to the actors that they wished the characters could come to the classrooms to teach math and other subjects, because they do such a fantastic job reaching kids in a manner that enables the information to really sink in.

“The work accomplished through Land of Smiles® is completed as part of our social mission,” commented Rob Goren, president and CEO of Delta Dental of South Carolina. “We are committed to the well-being of the communities in our state, and we place great emphasis on outreach programs, school-based educational events and other oral health initiatives. Dental disease is 100 percent preventable. The formula is simple. You need to brush twice daily, floss and see a dentist twice a year.”

Those interested in having the award-winning Land of Smiles program visit their child’s school can have their child’s teacher, principal or school nurse visit www.LandofSmilesProgram.org or call 888-383-0008.

To learn more about Delta Dental of South Carolina, visit www.DeltaDentalSC.com. Helpful oral health news and information is also available on the company’s website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter @DeltaDentalSC.

Delta Dental is the dental benefits leader in the U.S. 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.