Dental Dental’s Land of Smiles program visited Lawson Elementary School, where actors performed for kindergarten through third grade students and staff members.
The Land of Smiles program teaches students to take proper care of their teeth and gums by brushing, flossing, using mouthwash and visiting a dentist every six months. Tooth Wizard, the good character, arrived to greet the students and introduce his friends, Panda, and Jumpin’ Jacamo, who resembles a court jester. Rounding out the cast is Plaque Man, Tooth Wizard’s archenemy. There is also an oversized model of teeth, gums and a tongue for students to see.
This year, the program has been converted into a musical. Tooth Wizard, Panda and Jumpin’ Jacamo sing songs containing positive messages about dental care, limiting how much sugary foods and beverages students should eat and drink and getting outside to play and be active instead of playing video games in front of a television or a computer.
Plaque Man lurks in the background and while Tooth Wizard talks about good dental health, Plaque Man sneaks about, leaving bits of “plaque” from his costume on the teeth model and on student volunteers that Tooth Wizard converts into “teeth” by draping them in white sheets. Tooth Wizard and his friends save the day by using a giant toothbrush, floss (a rope) and mouthwash (a plastic bucket full of green streamers) to remove the plaque.
Later in the day, teachers distributed bags to students containing toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss.
February is Dental Health Month at Lawson, so this show served as a preview of what students need to do daily to take care of the teeth and gums. Each year for the last six years, “Land of Smiles” has been invited to perform at more than 300 schools throughout Missouri. Last year alone, it visited more than 320 schools, educating more than 70,000 children.