Inaugural 'National Brush Day™' Encourages Parents to Keep Kids' Mouths Healthy by Brushing for Two Minutes, Twice a Day

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More than 16 million kids suffer from untreated tooth decay in United States

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Oct 30, 2013, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help reduce the number of children suffering from painful oral disease, the Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign, a joint effort between The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives and the Ad Council, announce National Brush Day™ to reinforce the importance of kids' oral health the day after Halloween.

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Inaugural 'National Brush Day' Encourages Parents to Keep Kids' Mouths Healthy by Brushing for Two Minutes, Twice a Day. (PRNewsFoto/The Ad Council) (PRNewsFoto/THE AD COUNCIL)

"The day after Halloween, a sugar-filled holiday, is a perfect time to remind parents and kids of the importance of adopting good habits for healthy teeth," said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. "The Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign aims to make teeth-brushing time fun with myriad interactive tools and resources."

To take part in National Brush Day, parents and caregivers can sign a pledge to make sure their kids brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day and join the new Kids' Healthy Mouths communities on Facebook and Twitter (@brush2min2x).

"Oral health experts agree that brushing teeth for two minutes, twice a day is a key step to a healthier mouth," said Gary Price, secretary and CEO of the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation. "We're excited to launch National Brush Day to elevate the importance of basic dental hygiene and remind parents and kids that tooth-brushing can be fun!"

The Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign has a host of tips, tricks and resources available at its website, 2min2x.org, including entertaining two-minute video clips to enjoy during the two-minute brushing time. The videos feature childhood favorites, such as characters from Sesame Street and Cartoon Network.

National Brush Day is a new initiative on behalf of the successful Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign launched in August of 2012. Since its unveiling, more than 1.5 million people have visited 2min2x.org and the PSAs have received more than $33 million in donated media across TV, radio, print, web and outdoor outlets. Additionally, a 2013 Ad Council survey shows that in one year, English-speaking parents report that their children are 7 percent more likely to brush twice a day and 4 percent more likely to brush for two minutes each time. Spanish-speaking parents report significant improvement as well, with 8 percent more kids brushing for two minutes, twice a day.

Additionally, next month the Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign will launch a new mobile game, "Toothsavers," as another way to make the two-minute brushing time fun and interactive. In the game, kids will be able to rescue classic fairy tale characters from a tooth-rotting curse and become heroes with the help of their toothbrushes. The game will be available for Android and Apple tablets and phones.

For more information about the Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign, visit 2min2x.org and follow the campaign's new social profiles on Facebook and Twitter (@brush2min2x).

Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives
The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives is a coalition of the leading organizations in the field of oral health. The Partnership is committed to improve children's oral health so that they can develop into healthy, productive adults. The coalition shares the view that no child should be in pain and suffer broader health issues or endure the social stigma and lack of opportunity resulting from untreated dental diseases and conditions. The coalition's primary mission is to teach parents and caregivers, as well as the children themselves, to take control of their own health through oral disease prevention.

Members of the Partnership include: Academy of General Dentistry, Alliance of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Periodontology, American Association for Dental Research, American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Association of Orthodontists, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Association of Women Dentists, American College of Prosthodontists, American Dental Assistants Association, American Dental Association, American Dental Education Association, American Dental Hygienists' Association, America's Dentists Care Foundation, Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors, California Dental Association, Children's Dental Health Project, Connecticut Coalition for Oral Health, Connecticut State Dental Association, Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, DentaQuest Foundation, Hispanic Dental Association, Maine Dental Access Coalition, Medicaid/SCHIP Dental Association, National Association of Dental Laboratories, National Children's Oral Health Foundation, National Dental Association, National Network for Oral Health Access, Oral Health America, Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention, Santa Fe Group, the Society of American Indian Dentists and Washington State Dental Association.

Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or view our PSAs on YouTube.

SOURCE The Ad Council