BALTIMORE — The number one chronic childhood illness in Baltimore City is tooth decay, which mainly affects minority and poor children. Two out of five children in the city have gum disease or decaying teeth by the time they are in school. Children with untreated tooth decay not only experience pain and infections but their ability to eat, speak, learn and play is also affected.
Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Future has been involved in the Baltimore city school curriculum for 15 years. Starting in the spring of 2015, a dedicated Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Mobile dental van will be available to children that don’t have health insurance or are under insured. The main goal of the Colgate van is to prevent dental problems before they start.
Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner and Dr. Marsha Butler, Vice President of Global Oral Health and Professional Relations of Colgate Palmolive Company have partnered to bring the dental disease prevention bus to Baltimore City.
This April, more than 200 students at Henderson-Hopkins partnership school got the privilege to view the new mobile van and receive services including free dental screening and oral health education.
Students not only enjoyed the free dental services provided by the mobile Colgate van, but they had the opportunity to meet the Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other city officials.
“We want all Baltimore children to have the best prospects for success in life. With this new mobile dental van specifically dedicated to the Baltimore area, thousands of children and their families will receive the tools they need to make dental health a priority,” Rawlings-Blake said.
In addition to games and activities, the children got to dance to tunes played by 13-year-old female DJ, DJ Beauty & The Beatz. The young DJ played popular hip hop as well as a song called ‘Purely Whites’ sang by sisters from Baltimore named Jordan and Jayla Waters. The song talks about perfect white teeth.
For more information about the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, visit www.ColgateBSBF.com.