Boys & Girls Clubs of America Partners with Crest to Fight Silent Epidemic

Boys & Girls Club of America
Tuesday, 10 October 2000

Cinncinnati (October 10, 2000) - In response to U. S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher's first-ever "Oral Health in America" report revealing a "silent epidemic" of oral health disease in America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has partnered with Crest, a trusted leader in oral health, to launch HEALTHY SMILES 2010.

Designed to address the alarming disparity in the oral health of America's low-income children and their families, HEALTHY SMILES 2010 will provide education, oral care tools and increased access to dental professionals to children and their families across the country within the next 10 years. The program is designed to help meet the Surgeon General's goal of eliminating disparities in oral health by 2010.

"Creating public-private partnerships, such as Crest HEALTHY SMILES 2010, can help affect change in the oral health of our country. These collective efforts can help educate both the public and health professionals, as well as provide the health care services and oral care tools needed to help end the current disparity in our nation's oral health," said Dr. Satcher.

Based on the principle that oral health is integral to overall health, HEALTHY SMILES 2010 will combine the passionate vision of Crest with the resources of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, and leading members of the dental community to affect real change in the state of the country's oral health by 2010. HEALTHY SMILES 2010 outreach efforts will work at the national and local level to empower individuals and communities. Plans include:

- Creating "cavity-free zones" through oral health education programs for children grades K through 3 and their families at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country

- Partnerships with leading dental schools to bring dental professionals to select communities that have a significant need for oral care services. Fully-equipped mobile dental-vans will provide oral health screenings, treatments, education and oral care tools to under-privileged children and their families

- Public service campaigns to help increase awareness that oral health is integral to overall health and the dissemination of educational materials providing information on oral health care and procedures

- Relationship with Rosie O'Donnell's Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, which helps provide for the fundamental needs of at-risk and underserved children and their families throughout the United States

- Applying proceeds from the sale of Crest toward programs that help improve the state of oral health in America

- Broad-based in-school oral health education programs reaching 90% of all first grade classes in the United States

"Boys & Girls Clubs of America's youth development strategy focuses on the entire child – their education, moral compass, self-identity and health," said Roxanne Spillett, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "By stressing oral hygiene at an early age, we are protecting young people's overall well-being and future."

"While we have made tremendous progress in the oral health of the American people over the last 50 years, there are still many in this country who are the victims of very poor oral health. The Hispanic and African-American populations represent the sector with the highest risk, where almost 47 percent of low-income Hispanics and African-Americans have untreated tooth decay," said Dr. Satcher. "We have uncovered profound disparities in oral health among the nation's most vulnerable citizens – our children. Inadequate education and limited access to dental professionals contributes to untreated tooth decay in over one-third of all children from low-income families."

Boys & Girls Clubs of America comprises a national network of 2,600 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 3.3 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as 'The Positive Place For Kids,' Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

A trusted leader in oral health for 40 years, Crest was the first oral care brand to secure the ADA seal of approval on fluoride toothpaste, a major preventor of cavities. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Crest is owned and distributed by Procter & Gamble.

For more information on CREST HEALTHY SMILES 2010, call 1-877-289-6322 or log onto www.crest.com for more information on proper oral care.

For more information, or to contact Boys & Girls Club of America, see their website at: www.bgca.org