Maggie’s Place is a non-profit organization that provides shelter, food, clothing and a supportive environment for expectant and new mothers who are homeless or have no other place to go. Jennifer moved in and had her son in December of 2011. She admitted that she didn’t know how to brush her teeth until she saw an oral health presentation – courtesy of a donation from Delta Dental of Arizona. Now, she has vastly improved oral health and wisdom that she can share with her newborn baby boy dental vacuum forming machine.
In 2012, Delta Dental companies nationwide provided financial support for 555 organizations and charities. A total of more than $42 million in donations went to support prevention, treatment, oral health education, dental education, sponsorship, and research. The lives of more than 5.3 million children and adults were improved through programs like Missions of Mercy (two-day, free dental clinics), community water fluoridation, mobile dental units that visited schools, scholarships for dental students, school sealant programs, Hispanic outreach programs and oral health research.
Additionally, more than 60% of the programs in which Delta Dental companies invested in 2012 helped improve treatment and oral health education, demonstrating the sincerity of our commitment to increasing access to oral health treatment and information for all Americans.
“As the leader in the industry and a not-for-profit company, we understand the responsibility we have to be charitable leaders in our local communities,” said Steven R. Olson, president and CEO of Delta Dental Plans Association. “We will continue to be strong advocates for the improvement of oral health treatment and the advancement of oral health knowledge.”
A 10-year vision has become a reality for Kasey Pitillo, the creator of Happy Teeth Natural Baby Dental Products. Astounded by the lack of knowledge among parents regarding dental care in infants and children, Pitillo set out to develop better oral habits in the nation’s youngsters.
The result is Happy Teeth Natural Baby non-fluoridated toothpaste (1.4 oz), and the Pure Baby Toothbrush by Radius. The hope of Pitillo and her partners is that use of these products and oral health care awareness for children will become second nature for the nation’s young families.
“Most children’s visits to the dentist are troubleshooting trips,” Pitillo said dental air compressor. “They come to the dentist because they have a cavity or a toothache. I want to help prevent those visits by promoting preventive oral care in infants and children.”
Happy Teeth launched just last month, and the reception has been very good among dental professionals. Pitillo is marketing to pediatric dentists, pediatricians, and even OB-Gyns, asking them to help educate parents and expectant parents about the importance of good oral care and the Happy Teeth line.
Happy Teeth products are fluoride free, safe to swallow, made with xylitol, and are all natural. The Happy Teeth line currently includes toothpaste and a Pure Baby toothbrush, and plans are to add other products soon, including infant gum wipes.
“There are very few natural oral care products for infants and children,” she noted. “I feel it’s a void that needs to be addressed. And not just products, but an awareness of oral health care lifestyle needs to be adopted, and that’s where the Happy Teeth website comes in.”
Education for parents and children are offered on the brand’s website at gethappyteeth.com portable dental unit. Parents can download a free e-book about children’s dental care, watch educational links about brushing basics and baby bottle tooth decay, sign up to receive a newsletter, and access the free educational and resource center. Children can watch a “brush-along” video with singing brushing instructions.
“My goal is to help families and children develop good oral habits that last a lifetime,” Pitillo said. “We want families to be aware of good oral care before that first tooth even appears.”
The mother of three children ages 10 and under, Pitillo worked for both Laclede and Discus Dental in their marketing departments. This gave her excellent connections to help with her product development and promotion. She also called upon her nieces, nephews, and own children to help with the taste testing. She was familiar with the product First Teeth from Laclede that it is no longer on the market, and felt the time was right to introduce a similar oral care product.What Is The Negative Pressure Of Dental Medical Equipment? for more information.