Delta Dental of South Carolina Expands Land of Smiles® Oral Health Program to Lexington County Preschoolers

Establishing strong oral health habits in life is essential. Nearly 25% of children ages 2 to 5 have cavities1, even though tooth decay is preventable. To help address this, Delta Dental of South Carolina—a nonprofit organization and leading dental benefits provider—expanded its Land of Smiles® dental education program to preschoolers in Lexington County.

The program’s 15-minute video features Captain Super Grin®, Terri Tooth Fairy and villain Caz Cavity as they teach key habits: brushing twice a day, flossing, choosing healthy foods and visiting the dentist regularly. Each participating child receives a “smile bag” with a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and a Dental Resource Guide listing free and low-cost dental care options in their community.

Since 2014, Land of Smiles has reached 360,000 students across 44 South Carolina counties, with surveys showing significant improvement in oral health knowledge and behaviors. The program now extends to younger children through partnerships with preschools and Head Start programs.

“Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease,” said Stacy Harris, executive director of community impact at Delta Dental of South Carolina. “Strong oral health habits developed early in life set the stage for lifelong healthy smiles. This free program provides a simple, effective way for preschools to support this development.”

Preschool and Head Start directors and staff can request the free virtual program at LandofSmilesProgram.org. After submitting a request, schools receive login credentials and “smile bags” are shipped directly to them.

Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics

About Delta Dental of South Carolina

Delta Dental of South Carolina is a trade name of Delta Dental of Missouri, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization and leading dental benefits provider, which operates in South Carolina under that name. As a nonprofit, its mission is to improve overall health and well-being in the communities it serves. It provides more than 411,000 members in South Carolina with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of South Carolina also created the South Carolina Dental