Philadelphia Gentle Dental offices and their tooth mascot, Sir Floss A Lot, hit the streets to raise awareness about children’s dental health risks and the importance of regular preventive care.

Fact: 1 in 5 low-income kids go without needed dental care; the Keystone state receives a “D” for how it’s addressing this need (worse than 41 other states in the U.S.), according to  the Pew Center on the States ranking.

Untreated tooth decay is on the rise in children, especially in low-income households. Medicaid-enrolled Pennsylvania children visit the dentists for preventive care less frequently than similar children in other states – even though these dental visits cost parents nothing out of pocket.

Sir Floss A Lot and the Gentle Dental Team aimed to spark awareness and inspire Philadelphia residents to smile with surprise visits to popular Philadelphia attractions such as the National Museum of Art and Love Park, children’s summer programs including the First Tee of Philadelphia and Philadelphia School of Rock. Sir Floss A Lot even ate cheesesteaks with Tone Luke and skated at Race St. Pier with the Philly Roller Derby Girls. Kids and parents in local Philadelphia neighborhoods and parks had a great time brushing Sir Floss A Lot and learning about proper dental hygiene.

Watch his tour de force:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMYXaTZOkTo&list=UUsyy8lzxdKTUwK_CMs3dN7g

“Improving children’s oral healthcare is a top priority for Gentle Dental”, said Shawn Wherry, Vice President of Marketing. “Children’s dental health significantly impacts their overall health, and we know that cost is often a barrier to families maintaining regular visits and screenings. Many are unaware their child’s dental visit may cost them nothing out of pocket depending on the associated program. We hit the streets and filmed this video to help educate and spread the word to families in the greater Philadelphia area.”

Parents and families can join Gentle Dental’s “Kids Dental Days” every Saturday in August. They can learn more at www.gentledental-pa.com, or by searching for Gentle Dental of PA on Facebook. Parents can schedule dental appointments for the entire family by calling 888-SMILE- FIX.