Dayanara Torres co-authors children’s book for Crest Healthy Smiles Program.

Actress and former Miss Universe, Dayanara Torres, will release her first children’s book exclusively for Crest Healthy Smiles, a national oral health outreach program, that will help educate young children and their families about the importance of proper oral care. The book, written in English and Spanish, chronicles the experiences of a brother and sister as they take their first trip to the dentist. It will be released in limited quantity for free beginning May 23, 2006 through to July 29th just in time for summer reading. Consumers can order their free copy by calling toll-free 1-866-989-9968 or by logging onto www.cresthealthysmiles for details.

“As a Mom of two young boys, I know it’s difficult for parents to get children excited about brushing their teeth and going to the dentist,” says Dayanara Torres. “This book, titled Ricky and Andrea’s Healthy Beautiful Smiles is a great way for children to prepare for a trip to the dentist and learn how to care for their teeth in a fun and engaging way that really speaks to them. I am really proud of its message and so happy to be partnering with Crest Healthy Smiles again to help spread oral health education to families nationwide.”

“One of the biggest impediments to combating the oral health epidemic is a lack of awareness and education on how to prevent tooth decay – the single most chronic childhood disease,” said Dr. Ivan Lugo, 2005 president of the Hispanic Dental Association. “It is necessary that we continue to introduce educational tools such as this book to help children and parents understand the importance of preventative care.”