Establishing strong oral health habits in life is essential. Nearly 25% of children ages 2-5 have cavities, even though tooth decay is preventable. 

To help address this, Delta Dental of Missouri — a nonprofit organization and the state’s leading dental benefits provider — expanded its Land of Smiles dental education program to preschoolers in the Cassville area.

The program’s 15-minute video features Captain Super Grin, Terri Tooth FairySM and villain Caz CavitySM as they teach key habits: brushing twice a day, flossing, choosing healthy foods and visiting the dentist regularly. Each participating child receives a “smile bag” with a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and a Dental Resource Guide listing free and low-cost dental care options in their community.

Since 2002, Land of Smiles has reached 1.5 million students across 113 Missouri counties, with surveys showing significant improvement in oral health knowledge and behaviors. The program now extends to younger children through partnerships with more than 50 preschools and Head Start programs. 

“Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease,” said Stacy Harris, executive director of community impact at Delta Dental of Missouri. “Strong oral health habits developed early in life set the stage for lifelong healthy smiles. This free program provides a simple, effective way for preschools to support this development.” 

Preschool and Head Start directors and staff can request the free virtual program at www.LandofSmilesMO.org. After submitting a request, schools receive login credentials and “smile bags” are shipped directly to them. 

Delta Dental of Missouri is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization and the state’s leading dental benefits provider. As a nonprofit, its mission is to improve overall health and well-being in the communities it serves. It provides more than 2.41 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. 

Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. 

Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at https://www.deltadentalmo.com/resourceguide. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.