By Kelsi Matylewicz/ Benco Dental Social Media Intern

Oral Health America, a national nonprofit organization, is proud to announce The National Spit Tobacco Education Project, also known as NSTEP, 2015 slogan contest.  The winner of the contest will be a Little League baseball or softball player, age 14 and younger, who is on a roster for an affiliated Little League program in the U.S. for the 2015 season, and demonstrates the most knowledge about the consequences of using tobacco.

Oral Health America states that they “will award the winner a paid trip for two (2) for one night including airfare, hotel accommodations and ground transportation to the Little League Baseball® World Series in South Williamsport, PA.” Both the winner and the winner’s league will win a cash prize of $500.

How to enter:

Contestants* are to create an original slogan directed to children between the ages of 8 and 14.  The winning slogan needs to:

  1. Not exceed ten (10) words in length
  2. Describe the dangers of using smokeless tobacco
  3. Be related specifically to baseball
  4. Offer a positive alternative to spit tobacco usage

*A maximum of three entries per person will be accepted.

To view examples and how to submit your entry,view: https://oralhealthamerica.org/programs/nstep/contest/

Chewing tobacco has long been a part of baseball’s culture, but today, awareness about oral cancer is trying to break this bad habit.

Tony Gwynn, Babe Ruth, Brett Butler, Curt Flood, and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling,  have all been treated for oral cancer.

According to Dentistry&You, powered by Dear Doctor magazine, Schilling stated “I do believe without a doubt and unquestionably that chewing is what gave me cancer.” He told Boston-area radio station WEII. “I’ll go to my grave believing that was why I got what I got.”

PeriRx - SaliMark Test-KitInterested in early detection? PeriRx is one company that has a breakthrough, non-invasive, oral diagnostic technology that will assist healthcare professionals and their patients. “The company has developed a painless saliva test that uses proven bio-chemistry analytics at high sensitivity and specificity to enable early disease risk detection. This early detection of treatable diseases can enhance patient wellness while reducing the cost of healthcare.”

PeriRx is introducing SaliMark™ OSCC, its first commercial saliva test for the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma, which kills thousands of patients per year.

View more details here: https://perirx.com/products/oral-cancer-salivary-diagnostic-test/