Posts

Ratoncito Perez seeks to educate Hispanic kids on oral health

With toothbrush in hand, Ratoncito Perez seeks to educate Hispanic kids on oral health as part of Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Delta Dental Insurance Company has joined forces with the tooth fairy’s Spanish-speaking counterpart, el Ratoncito Perez, to remind Hispanic children and their parents about the importance of good dental hygiene.

Ratoncito Perez seeks to educate Hispanic children on oral health

Ratoncito Perez seeks to educate Hispanic children on oral health

According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), tooth decay is the most common childhood disease, affecting nearly 60 percent of children. Of the 4 million children born each year, nearly half are estimated to get their first cavity by the time they reach second grade. What’s more, according to the May 2000 Surgeon General’s report, Oral Health in America, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to tooth decay and other dental problems. For minorities and children from low-income families, these statistics are increasingly worse.

“Oral health problems persist among children, in spite of the fact that tooth decay is largely preventable,” said Solomon Romano, Hispanic marketing manager for Delta Dental. “We have teamed up with Ratoncito Perez and put in place several initiatives – a Spanish-language website, bilingual brochures and Spanish-speaking dentists – to educate parents and children that through regular dental cleanings and checkups, the use of sealants, and appropriate diet and oral health care, a healthy smile is achievable and maintained.”

As part of this dental health awareness effort, Delta Dental and Ratoncito Perez share the following simple tips that parents and children can practice to prevent dental problems:

  • Visit your dentist every six months for dental cleanings and check-ups.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day. The floss should go between the gum and each tooth to clean food particles trapped under there.
  • Brush your teeth after every meal and before going to bed. Each brushing session should last at least two minutes and should include fluoride-based toothpaste.
  • After snacking, drink a glass of water to help wash away the sugar and neutralize the acid. Alternatively, chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow has the same effect.
  • Limit consumption of sugary drinks such as juice and soda. When you or your children do drink them, use a straw, which limits the sugary beverage’s contact with teeth.

For more information on children’s preventive dental care, please visit Delta Dental’s website: http://www.mysmilekids.com/espanol/index.html

So many times I wished I'd listened to my gut

So many times I wished I’d listened to my gut

Source: Delta Dental

Nationwide Outreach Spreads Traditional Foods Message

Oldways Offers Free Latino Nutrition Tools

the Oldways Latino Nutrition Collection, a free online resource offering a variety of bilingual nutrition tools the educational organization has created through its 14 years of work celebrating traditional Latino lifestyles.

the Oldways Latino Nutrition Collection, a free online resource offering a variety of bilingual nutrition tools the educational organization has created through its 14 years of work celebrating traditional Latino lifestyles.

In time for Latino Nutrition Month and National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), Oldways introduces a new initiative dubbed “Latino Nutrition in Your Community” to encourage health organizations, businesses and individuals to spread the word that making healthy food and lifestyle choices can help reduce the rise of chronic disease facing the Latino community.

The centerpiece of the campaign is the Oldways Latino Nutrition Collection, a free online resource offering a variety of bilingual nutrition tools the educational organization has created through its 14 years of work celebrating traditional Latino lifestyles.  The collection features practical tips, recipes and health information in both English and Spanish, available free of charge for individuals and health professionals to download and distribute.  In addition, through October 15, Oldways is offering free printed copies of its Camino Magico bilingual supermarket guide and its beautifully illustrated Latin American Diet Pyramid poster.

“Latinos, the fastest growing segment of American society, face serious health risks as they replace the nutritious foods of their traditional diets with a typical Western diet known for unhealthy foods and oversized portions,” said Sara Baer-Sinnott, President, Oldways, an internationally-respected non-profit.  “We are reaching out to Latino organizations nationwide to encourage them to share these tools honoring traditional Latino ingredients and lifestyles with their local communities.”

Oldways is already working with communities across the country, stretching from California to Illinois to Florida and hopes more will take advantage of this opportunity, Ms. Baer-Sinnott added.

“A lot of Spanish-speaking people will be touched by these resources,” said Cintia Aguilar, Latino Affairs Facilitator for North Carolina Cooperative Extension, in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina has the country’s fastest-growing Latino population, and Aguilar is working with all 100 North Carolina extension offices to use the materials in their community programs.

To date, distribution of these free materials is supported by General Mills, Herdez/MegaMex, Mission, National Watermelon Promotion Board, The Peanut Institute, US Potato Board, Soyfoods Association of North American, Tambobamba, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Kwik’pak Fisheries.

To bring these educational efforts to even more communities, Oldways is looking for additional corporate partners.  Companies who would like to signal their commitment to Latino health by providing the resources to distribute these materials can visit our website for more information or contact Erika Ross, eross@oldwayspt.org, 617-896-4850.

Using its knowledge of traditional foodways and expertise in nutrition communications, Oldways is a strong voice for Latino health.  In 1996, Oldways created the Latin American Diet Pyramid as a visual guide to healthy eating.

Other initiatives have included a campaign that created and distributed 1,400,000 copies of its Camino Magico bilingual healthy eating guide; tastings of healthy Latino foods in national supermarket chains; creation of health information for consumers and health professionals; and establishment of Latino Nutrition Month to build awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.

Please contact Alison Clancy (aclancy@oldwayspt.org) or 617-896-4888) for more information, including hi-res graphics of the Latin American Diet Pyramid, or to schedule an interview with Oldways President Sara Baer-Sinnott.

About Oldways
Oldways (www.oldwayspt.org) is an internationally-respected non-profit, changing the way people eat through positive and practical programs grounded in science and tradition.  It is the parent organization for The Whole Grains Council and The Mediterranean Foods Alliance, and is well-known for creating the Whole Grain Stamp and the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid.

true appreciation

true appreciation