(Charlotte, NC, November 16, 2016) – With funding from DentaQuest, America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation will provide 2,000 free patches to Boy and Girl Scouts engaging in community oral health activities.

America’s ToothFairy has offered its Scout Patch Program since 2013 with the purpose of educating Boy and Girl Scouts about the importance of dental health and engaging them in teaching others. To date, America’s ToothFairy has awarded more than 21,000 “Real Life ToothFairy” and “Real Life SuperHero” patches to Scouts across the country.

“Good oral health is essential to the health of our communities,” said Steve Pollock, chief executive officer of DentaQuest. “Supporting initiatives like the America’s ToothFairy Scout Patch Program to engage youth, build leadership skills, and encourage healthy behaviors is vital to improving the oral health of all.”

To earn their patch, participating Scouts will work to “change beliefs, change behaviors, and change the environment” of children’s dental health and wellness in their communities. Scouts must complete three oral-health related activities and submit a brief report to earn their patch. Examples of community activities include:

• Holding a Smile Drive to collect oral care products for children in need.
• Hosting a health fair to promote dental health.
• Visiting a dental office to learn how dentists and dental hygienists help patients maintain good oral health.
  
• Presenting dental health educational lessons to younger Scouts.
  
• Conducting healthy food or water demonstrations.
  
• Planting a Smile Garden
  

“America’s ToothFairy is very proud of the thousands of Scouts who have earned their ToothFairy and SuperHero patches through our Patch Program,” said Fern Ingber, America’s ToothFairy President and CEO. “We are grateful to DentaQuest for investing in this growing effort to improve the health and well-being of Scouts, their families and communities.”

Interested Scout Troops are invited to learn more at http://bit.ly/SCTPAT16.

About America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation®
America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of one of the most prevalent chronic childhood illnesses: pediatric dental disease, facilitating the delivery of comprehensive oral health services and eliminating this preventable disease from future generations. With a growing Affiliate Network of exemplary non-profit community programs, Kids Club, and professional and student service programs, America’s ToothFairy is building a powerful, united effort to eliminate tooth decay and protect the smiles of our most vulnerable children. For more information, visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org.

‍About DentaQuest
Based in Boston, Mass., DentaQuest is a leading oral health organization and the largest dental benefits company in the Medicaid space. Along with its charitable DentaQuest Foundation, its clinical DentaQuest Care Group and its educational DentaQuest Institute, its mission is to improve the oral health of all. Follow DentaQuest on Twitter @DentaQuest, Facebook at www.facebook.com/DentaQuest, Instagram @inside_dentaquest and LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/dentaquest, and subscribe to our blog, Oral Health Matters at http://oralhealthmatters.blogspot.com/.