ADA Hosts National Museum of Dentistry’s "MouthPower" Exhibit

Traveling exhibit helps children discover the power of a healthy smile

CHICAGO, Feb. 17, 2009 – "MouthPower," a traveling exhibit in which children can learn to brush their teeth on a larger-than-life mouth, play dentist in a child-size dental chair and clinic coat, learn the dangers of tobacco and explore parts of a tooth, is coming to Chicago.

 The "MouthPower" exhibit opens to the public from February through April in the lobby of the American Dental Association's (ADA) Chicago headquarters building, located at 211 E. Chicago Ave.

The interactive exhibit, sponsored by the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, is on loan from The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, located in Baltimore, Md.  Geared for children, it provides them with hands-on learning to "discover the power of a healthy smile and the importance of having good oral health in a healthy life." 

 "Mouthie®," the exhibit's chatterteeth mascot guides children in grades 1-3 (ages 5-8) through the following eight hands-on learning stations.

• Build a Tooth: Build a tooth by turning colorful overlay pages in a tooth-shaped book.
• Let's Brush and Floss: Practice brushing and flossing on an oversize mouth with king-size brush and floss.
• Say No to Smoking: "Put out" the cigarettes to learn about the risks of smoking.
• Tobacco = Tooth Trouble: Move a smile along a visual timeline to discover what tobacco use can do to a healthy mouth.
• Start Your Food Adventure: Begin a lifetime of healthy feasting with smart food choices from the new food pyramid.
• Let's Eat! Let's Move!: Explore how portion size and exercise builds a healthy body.
• Join the Dental Team: Don clinic coats and become members of the dental team (dentist, patient, hygienist, and assistant) in a child-size dental office complete with chair and x-rays.
• Play the MouthPower® Game: Explore an interactive computer version of the exhibition.

School Tours

Schools can contact Lalita Pittman at pittmanl@ada.org  or Beverly Skoog at skoogb@ada.org to arrange a tour for appropriate-aged students.  School tours are limited to no more than 30 students at a time and available Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

About the American Dental Association

Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org

About the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) is a not-for-profit membership association representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. The AAPD’s 7,500 members are primary oral health care providers who offer comprehensive specialty treatment for millions of infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs. The AAPD also represents general dentists who treat a significant number of children in their practices. As advocates for children’s oral health, the AAPD develops and promotes evidence-based policies and guidelines, fosters research, contributes to scholarly work concerning pediatric oral health, and educates health care providers, policymakers, and the public on ways to improve children’s oral health. For further information, please visit the AAPD Web site at www.aapd.org

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