Foundation Donates More Than 350,000 Toothbrushes Across Iowa in 2016
Posted on December 20, 2016 in Foundation
One out of every 11 Iowans received a toothbrush from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation this year. In total, more than 350,000 toothbrushes were distributed across the state through its toothbrush donation program. Schools, clinics, hospitals, I-Smile™ coordinators, Head Start, and other organizations received toothbrushes to encourage brushing, along with dental health education to help Iowans develop and maintain a healthy smile.
According to the Surgeon General’s Oral Health in America Report, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease. Starting and maintaining good dental habits at a young age is important and aligns with the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s long-term goal that every Iowa child age 0-12 will be cavity-free by 2020. These efforts reach all 99 Iowa counties, furthering the Foundation’s mission to support and improve the health of Iowans.
“We have been able to grow our toothbrush distribution by more than 75 percent since 2013 by creatively seeking new partnerships and working to expand our current programs,” said Jeff Russell, president of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. “We have an aggressive goal to help all Iowa children be cavity free by 2020. To accomplish that goal, we are continuing to support programs like Head Start, partner with Iowa school nurses and find new channels where we can share dental tools and education.”
In 2017, Iowa non-profit organizations can request toothbrush donations to complement oral health education projects through the Delta Dental of Iowa website at www.deltadentalia.com/foundation/grant-funding and select Toothbrush Donation Program.
About Delta Dental of Iowa
Delta Dental of Iowa is the largest and most experienced provider of dental benefits in the state. As a not-for-profit insurance company, Delta Dental of Iowa invests in oral health and wellness projects through the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation that focus on access to care, prevention, education and research. Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s mission is to support and improve the oral health of Iowans.
Delta Dental of Iowa is a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, the leading national network of independent dental service corporations. It provides dental benefits programs to more than 70 million Americans in more than 120,000 employee groups throughout the country. For more information, visit our website at www.deltadentalia.com.