FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 9, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 287-7054, chefner@cincymuseum.org

Delta Dental Foundation commits $25,000 grant to help students brush up on oral health

Grant funds school trips to Inside the Grin at Cincinnati Museum Center
CINCINNATI – Delta Dental Foundation is helping students brush up on proper oral health by funding field trips toCincinnati Museum Center’s Inside the Grin exhibit. After helping over 2,300 students visit the exhibit in 2016, Delta Dental is providing grant funding of $25,000 to once again cover admission to the exhibit and transportation to CMC for the students. Field trip funding applications opened October 2.
The Inside the Grin exhibit is a permanent addition to CMC’s Duke Energy Children’s Museum. The exhibit is the centerpiece of the Junior League of Cincinnati’s GrinUp! Initiative, which seeks to improve oral healthcare in children. The exhibit was funded, in part, by a $55,000 grant from the Delta Dental Foundation. Through that initial funding, plus the recent grants for school field trips, Delta Dental has provided over $100,000 to support greater oral health education.
“We are proud to partner with Cincinnati Museum Center and their Duke Energy Children’s Museum in order to give thousands of children an outlet to learn about oral health in a fun and enriching setting,” said Teri Battaglieri, director for the Delta Dental Foundation.
Delta Dental Foundation’s commitment to childhood oral healthcare provides students and schools the opportunity to visit an exhibit unlike any other in the nation to learn the importance of proper oral health in a fun, whimsical way. Schools within the Cincinnati Public Schools system where 60 percent or more of students are eligible for free and reduced price lunch in kindergarten through fourth grade are eligible to apply for funding. Eligible schools can visit cincymuseum.org/educators/resources to apply.
“The Delta Dental Foundation’s incredible generosity has empowered so many children to learn more about proper oral healthcare, enriching their minds and their bodies,” says Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “We are so grateful they have expanded access to Inside the Grin as we work to fill the city with happy, healthy smiles.”
Tooth decay is the leading chronic infectious disease in children. More than 40% of children nationwide experience dental decay by kindergarten. In Ohio, dental care remains the greatest unmet healthcare need for children, regardless of income. Locally, in Cincinnati Public Schools, one out of every ten children has visible tooth decay.
“Good oral health is closely linked to overall health. That’s why teaching children at an early age about taking care of their teeth and mouths is so important,” Battaglieri said.
Inside the Grin allows children to literally climb inside the mouth to explore and learn how to establish healthy dental habits at home. The exhibit features a full set of enormous, anatomically-correct teeth. Children can use giant floss and a massive toothbrush to practice proper flossing and brushing techniques, learning healthy habits through play. The inside of the mouth is modeled after a dentist’s office, complete with a reclining dentist’s chair, child-safe dental instruments and interactive videos. Through education, Inside the Grin can help reduce dental decay in children by teaching proper oral health habits.
The GrinUp! Initiative and the Inside the Grin exhibit are supported by CrestOral-B, the Delta Dental Foundation, Oral Health AmericaCincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Junior League of Cincinnati, Landor & Associates and Cincinnati Museum Center.
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About Delta Dental Foundation
The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980, which serves as the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina. The Foundation is dedicated to improving the oral health of the public and to advancing dental science through education and research. For more information, visit www.deltadentaloh.com.
About Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution and national historic landmark. Dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration, CMC was awarded the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2012. CMC is one of a select few museums in the nation with both of these honors, making it a unique asset and a vital community resource. Union Terminal has been voted the nation's 45th most important building by the American Institute of Architects. Organizations within CMC include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater and Cincinnati History Library & Archives. Recognized by Forbes Traveler Magazine as the 17th most visited museum in the country, CMC welcomes more than one million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org.