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is Children’s Dental Health Month, a time to educate families across our state on what we can all do at home to help prevent the No. 1 chronic disease in kids today: tooth decay. As part of National Children’s Oral Health Month and to promote our new brush-together pledge, an op-ed piece by Dr. Okuji ran in the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps William D. Bailey, DDS, MPH, has been appointed by the CU School of Dental Medicine as the endowed chair in Prevention of Early Childhood Caries. His appointment is effective August 1, 2014 following his retirement from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in spring 2014. Funded by Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, the endowed chair in Prevention of Early Childhood Caries aims to further Delta Dental’s and the School of Dental Medicine’s mutual goal of eradicating childhood tooth decay.

Tooth decay is five times more common than asthma and can lead to painful cavities, missed schools days and many other problems affecting a child’s development and self-esteem. With Halloween and a season of sweet treats upon us, it’s important for parents to know how they can help protect their kids’ teeth from decay. Dental Dental of Colorado Dental Director Dr. Michael Okuji gave tips for managing sweets in a segment on 9News.

Since the 1970s, CHC has honored professionals in public relations, communications and marketing through the annual Gold Leaf Awards competition. CHC is the only Colorado member organization that exclusively honors local health-care communicators and marketing professionals. Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation is proud to receive the following awards:

• GOLD LEAF AWARD
  Advertising: Multimedia Campaign for Brush with Me Campaign
  Advertising: Broadcast for Brush with Me Campaign
• BRONZE LEAF AWARD
  Printed Annual Report: Fifteen Years of Changing Communities, Improving Lives Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Mirella Chavez, Community Benefits Coordinator by day and Tooth Fairy by night, was interviewed on Despierta Colorado. She discussed the importance of brushing your teeth together, her busy schedule attending Delta Dental events, and the Brush With Me campaign. Pearl E White, the biggest tooth she’s ever collected, also garnered some screen time. The segment aired on Despierta Colorado on September 26, October 1 and October 9.

Wyatt Hornsby, Campaign Director at Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, interviewed with Kathie J from the radio station KS107.5 to support the Brush With Me campaign. They talked about the link between dental health and academic success, and how back-to-school time offers the perfect opportunity to set a new family routine of brushing together. Wyatt also highlighted that oral surgery is the number one reason children are brought to the OR at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Dr. Patty Braun, a pediatrician at Denver Health’s Eastside Family Health Center, discussed the importance of dental health at a young age and the Brush With Me campaign on Fox 31’s Good Day Colorado. She covered how cavities form, what parents can do to keep their kids cavity free and how to make brushing together fun for kids. Patty also emphasized the importance of oral health to overall health and why as a pediatrician she is passionate about this issue.

Barbara Springer, Executive Director of Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, was interviewed by Radio Disney on the Brush With Me campaign. She was joined in studio by Dr. Patty Braun, a pediatrician at Denver Health’s Eastside Family Health Center, to discuss the importance of dental health as a community issue.