ST. PAUL, Minn., (September 18, 2013)– This past race weekend, Greg Biffle, 3M Racing and 3M ESPE Dental had an opportunity to put smiles on lots of faces with a special ADA Give Kids A Smile® program for Chicago-area elementary school students and race fans of all ages.
As part of the NASCAR race week at Chicagoland Speedway, the American Dental Association's (ADA) Give Kids A Smile® program visited the UIC College of Dentistry - Department of Pediatric Dentistry for a special high-speed oral health screening event featuring members of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion race team and the No. 16 3M race car. Children from St. Malachy’s Elementary had a chance to rev up their dental health practices with a free check-up, cleaning and fluoride treatment, along with prizes, entertainment and high-speed fun. Local dignitaries, faculty members and members of the ADA board of trustees also attended the event.
The ADA’s Give Kids A Smile program, ADA Foundation, Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSIC), CareCredit℠ and 3M ESPE Dental have teamed up with NASCAR star Greg Biffle for the third year to put good oral health on the fast track for young fans of NASCAR. Across the country, Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is helping deliver the message to children about healthy habits like brushing for two minutes twice a day, flossing, visiting the dentist regularly and making smart food choices.
Thousands of race fans visited the 3M display in the midway for fun family activities, education about healthy dental habits, prizes and a chance to meet Biffle on Sunday morning.
“This program is great in that it helps teach parents and kids about good dental care for children, and provides education, screenings and treatment for thousands of kids in need each year. It’s an honor to be part of Give Kids A Smile,” said Biffle.
The weather on race day at Chicagoland Speedway was nothing to smile at, as rain delayed the start of the race and delivered a five-hour red flag mid-way through. Biffle started the race in the seventh spot, and finished the long, soggy day in 16th. He is now in the 10th position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.
“Give Kids A Smile is a terrific program that helps us showcase the great work of dentists and their teams in helping provide care to people who need it,” said ADA President Robert A. Faiella, D.M.D., M.M.Sc. “It’s a shame that dental disease is the most common chronic childhood disease when it’s something that can be prevented with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits.”
The yearlong ADA Give Kids A Smile education program, now in its 11th year, includes a national public service announcement featuring Greg Biffle and ongoing outreach to parents and children through dental offices, community events and media. Throughout the year, more than 1,700 Give Kids A Smile events will be held around the country, providing dental services to more than 400,000 underserved children.
“The Give Kids A Smile program loves having the opportunity to work with 3M ESPE Dental, Greg Biffle and NASCAR,” said Dr. Jeff Dalin, co-founder and chair of the ADA Give Kids A Smile National Advisory Committee. “We spent a day at UIC Department of Pediatric Dentistry working with kids from a local elementary school and several days at Chicagoland Speedway giving out thousands of toothbrush kits and dental hygiene instructions to NASCAR fans. We were able to touch thousands of lives with the important message about brushing twice a day for two minutes to prevent future dental problems. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners like Henry Schein, Inc., its supplier partners and CareCredit.”
In addition to following Biffle on the track, race fans of all ages can put themselves in victory lane with him. Just visit www.3MESPE.com/givekidsasmile to create a photo with Greg Biffle on pit road or with the race-winning trophy in Victory Lane. For more smart dental tips, visit www.2min2x.org, www.MouthHealthy.org and www.Facebook.com/GiveKidsASmile.
