February is National Children's Oral Health Month! Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation offers two key, free resources available to educators to engage students and bolster oral health: Captain Supertooth and MouthScience kits.

Captain Supertooth, Oklahoma’s defender of oral health, engages Oklahoma Pre-K through third grade students with a lively 25-minute performance, either in-person or virtually. Performances are interactive and allow students to better understand the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

MouthScience kits provide tools to visually demonstrate the levels of acid and sugar content in common drinks, encouraging kids to make healthier choices to better protect their teeth. Each MouthScience kit contains all the supplies needed for third through sixth-grade teachers to facilitate hands-on science experiments, aligned with Oklahoma Academic Standards, in their own classrooms.

“Oklahoma educators work diligently to set our children up for future success, and the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation, we want to support them in their efforts,” said Terrisa Singleton, director of the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation. “Our Foundation is proud to offer free resources, like Captain Supertooth and MouthScience kits, to foster good oral hygiene practices, which will have a positive impact on their lives for years to come.”

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, dental diseases are among the most prevalent health problems in Oklahoma. Studies show children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children with proper dental hygiene. Cavities, one of the most common chronic childhood infectious diseases in the country, can result in an inability to eat or chew well, discolored and damaged teeth and significant pain. The good news is these side effects are easily avoidable with proper dental hygiene, and that starts at an early age.

All students who participate in either program receive a free toothbrush to further empower them to take control of their dental health.

To schedule a visit from Captain Supertooth, visit CaptainSupertooth.com. To request a MouthScience kit today, visit DDOKFoundation.org/MouthScience. To learn more about the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation, visit DDOKFoundation.org.