Cayce Welcomes Fun and Education with Delta Dental’s Land of Smiles® Program
This fall, the city of Gilbert and the surrounding Lexington County area are buzzing with excitement! Why, you ask? Because the beloved Land of Smiles® dental education program from Delta Dental of South Carolina has hit the road, bringing its unique blend of fun and learning to schools around the state. This initiative is on a mission to teach kids the crucial art of dental care, and it recently made a joyful stop at several local schools, touching the lives of nearly 950 students from Gilbert Elementary, Congaree Elementary in West Columbia, and Seven Oaks Elementary in Columbia.
Meet Captain Super Grin® and Friends!
Every performance of the Land of Smiles® program features charismatic superhero Captain Super Grin®, who teams up with his trusty sidekicks—Terri Tooth FairySM and ToothpickSM—to battle the villainous Caz CavitySM. Through energetic storytelling and interactive engagement, kids learn the importance of simple yet effective oral health habits. They discover why it’s essential to brush their teeth twice a day, floss regularly, eat healthy foods, visit the dentist, and maybe most importantly, how all these practices contribute to a lifetime of healthy, bright smiles.
Making Learning Fun
With its exciting cast of characters and engaging storyline, the program ensures that the education about dental health isn’t just informative but also incredibly entertaining. According to Stacy Harris, the supervisor of community outreach at Delta Dental of South Carolina, feedback has shown that students’ understanding of dental care improves significantly after engaging with the show.
“Our engaging Land of Smiles show is a favorite for kids, teachers, and parents alike, as it encourages children to develop good dental habits at a young age that will help them have healthy, glowing smiles for life,” Harris explained. She noted that pre- and post-show surveys reveal an impressive average increase of 34% in good oral health behavior and knowledge among students after experiencing the performance.
Available Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Parents and caregivers can also get in on the action! Delta Dental provides short recap videos that share important oral health tips covered in the program. These resources can easily be accessed by visiting landofsmilesprogram.org, under the “South Carolina” section.
In addition to the information they gain from the show, participating kids receive free “smile bags” filled with practical goodies like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss to help them maintain the great habits they learn.
Here’s to Healthy Smiles for All!
Since its inauguration in 2014, the Land of Smiles® program has reached more than 340,000 children across South Carolina, hosting over 1,200 performances in 44 counties. Remarkably, a significant number of these schools—more than 60%—serve communities where over 70% of students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. This tells us that the program is not only entertaining but is also making a real impact in the lives of children who may need it the most.
Local teachers, school nurses, and principals are encouraged to get involved! To request a live show for this school year or to find out about the online program, they just need to shoot over an email to Schools@NationalTheatre.com or check the program’s website for more details.
Closing Thoughts
The Land of Smiles® program is a shining example of how education can be both fun and impactful. With the combined effort of local schools, enthusiastic kids, and the dedicated team at Delta Dental, our community is surely on the right path toward fostering healthy smiles for years to come. Here’s to making oral health a priority and continuing to spread joy and knowledge across Lexington County!
