Students at Irving Elementary School are in for a treat as the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation brings its popular Land of Smiles program to their campus on October 21st. This interactive presentation turns dental health education into an entertaining adventure, complete with lively characters like Captain Super Grin and Caz Cavity, teaching children the importance of oral hygiene. After participating, each student receives a free oral health kit packed with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Land of Smiles travels to elementary schools across Illinois, aiming to combat tooth decay—currently affecting one in five children ages five to eleven in the state.
Since its inception 16 years ago, the program has educated over 623,000 students in more than 1,000 schools. This fall, the tour will connect with more than 25,600 pre-kindergarten through third graders at 110 locations.
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, the charitable arm of Delta Dental of Illinois, is marking over a decade of work dedicated to improving oral health across the state. Since its creation in 2008, the foundation, along with its parent organization, has contributed more than $32 million to support oral health initiatives. Their efforts have reached 1.2 million Illinois residents through various programs and partnerships with local organizations. Initiatives like the Land of Smiles program aim to educate and promote dental wellness for children. For more information, listeners can visit deltadentalil.com/ddilfoundation.
