Dental News - Hermey the Elf awarded DDG by ADA president

Dental Tribune USA

Tue. 30 December 2014

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CHICAGO, Ill, USA: After 50 years of dreaming about becoming a dentist and promoting good dental health to his friend Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and everyone in the North Pole, Hermey the Elf was named a DDG — Dental Do Gooder, that is, by the president of the American Dental Association (ADA).

“Hermey’s passion for dentistry, coupled with his devotion to helping others feel good about themselves inside and out, deserves recognition,” said ADA President Maxine Feinberg, DDS. ”I know Hermey the Elf, DDG, will continue to inspire young people and those who are young at heart to follow their dreams.”

In honor of Hermey’s DDG designation, the ADA’s website, MouthHealthy.org, features a fun dental health quiz for families, plus a separate sweepstakes drawing to win a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer prize package. Free downloadable coloring book pages featuring Hermey and good dental health tips also appear on the ADA’s MouthHealthyKids.org.

The animated classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” tells the tale of how Rudolph and Hermey were initially rejected by their peers for being different, yet they go on to triumph when they show that their differences make them unique and helpful to their community.

2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the longest running and highest rated holiday special of all time. This year, the anniversary celebration included a major tie-in with the U.S. Postal Service, the roll-out of the live stage show “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” into 25 cities, tribute promos from CBS, new products and programs across all retail channels, a collector’s edition DVD and Blu-ray with new bonus material, new theme park and in-mall attractions, a Carnegie Hall concert tribute and a social media campaign — #ShineBright — that celebrating uniqueness in association with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.

The ADA encourages parents with children who have expressed an interest in a career in dentistry, like Hermey, to visit ADA.org. The ADA also recommends these family-friendly tips for good dental health all year long:

Take your child to the dentist no later than his or her first birthday.
Brush teeth two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste that has earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance and supervise young children as they brush to make sure they spit out the toothpaste.
Use a smear or rice-sized amount of toothpaste for children younger than three years old.
Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for children three to six years old.
Visit an ADA member dentist as directed. Regular dental visits can help prevent problems or catch them early when they are easier to treat.
When a child has two teeth that touch, begin flossing once a day.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drink fluoridated water—a healthy diet is important for dental and overall health.
Replace toothbrushes every three to four months as frayed bristles can be less effective at cleaning teeth.

(Source: ADA)

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