Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 Partners With Dayanara Torres.

Crest turns 50 this year, and to celebrate its long-time commitment to children’s smiles, it has partnered with superstar Dayanara Torres and the Hispanic Dental Association to raise awareness about proper oral health during Children’s Dental Health Month. Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 (CHS 2010), a national outreach program created in response to a report by the US Surgeon General in 2000, is educating children and parents about tooth decay, the single most common chronic childhood disease. By providing proper education, tools and dental care to children across the country, CHS 2010 is setting out to reach 50 million children and their families by 2010.

“Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 embodies what Crest has stood for over the last 50 years – improving the oral health of families,” said Diane Dietz, General Manager – Procter & Gamble North America Oral Care. “This program enables children to make healthy, beautiful smiles for life a reality, making oral care accessible, rewarding, and enjoyable.”

This year, Torres will help educate families about the proper way to care for their teeth. Torres is a former aspiring orthodontist who, since being crowned Miss Universe, has worked with various charitable organizations that benefit children. She believes starting children on an oral hygiene regimen when they are young will help ensure children grow up with healthy teeth and gums.

“Over the years, I’ve worked with a number of children’s organizations. What I’ve seen has taught me how important it is for children to have access to proper medical treatment and preventive care,” said Torres. “This chance to partner with Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 is a wonderful opportunity. They’ve given me and other parents the tools to help educate children and to keep their smiles healthy.”

“The importance of good oral hygiene cannot be stressed enough,” said Dr. Ivan Lugo, president of the Hispanic Dental Association. “Leaving untreated bacteria in the mouth can result in heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as lowered school performance for children due to dental-related illnesses. However, brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing, and visiting a dentist twice a year can aid in preventing these diseases.”