Innovative Program Encourages Kids to “Brush with the Biff” to Put Good Dental Health on the Fast Track in Conjunction with NASCAR Events around the CountryGreg Biffle to Drive Special Give Kids A Smile No. 16 Ford Fusion at the Spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at TexasST. PAUL, Minn., (February 18, 2014) – When the engines fire at Daytona, not only will it mark the start of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, it will kick off the fourth year that NASCAR star Greg Biffle is helping put good dental health for kids on the fast track.
3M ESPE Dental has joined together with the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile program, ADA Foundation, Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSIC), CareCredit℠, Church and Dwight, Oral Health America and NASCAR star Greg Biffle again to put good oral health on the fast track for young fans of NASCAR. Across the country, Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is helping deliver the message to children about healthy habits like brushing for two minutes twice a day, flossing, visiting the dentist regularly and making smart food choices.
During the 2014 NASCAR season, 3M ESPE Dental will bring the “Brush with the Biff” program to 11 racetracks, including Daytona (February), Texas (April), Richmond (April), Talladega (May), Kentucky (June), Bristol (August), Chicago (September), Dover (September), Kansas (October), Charlotte (October) and Phoenix (November). At each race, race fans of all ages visit the 3M display in the midway for fun family activities, education about healthy dental habits, dental care kits that include Church and Dwight SpinBrushes and ToothTune toothbrushes, and a chance to meet Biffle on race day.
In five race markets, the Give Kids A Smile program will race into local schools for fun-filled high-speed oral health education events featuring members of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion race team and the No. 16 3M race car. Through a grant from the ADA Foundation made possible by funding from CareCredit, more than 7,500 students will have an opportunity to learn about Biffle and 3M Racing and get smart dental tips that will improve their dental health, confidence and ability to pay attention in school. Participating markets include Texas, Kentucky, Bristol, Chicago and Phoenix.
“Bringing the vital message of the importance of good oral care to hundreds of thousands of race car fans is an exciting opportunity,” said Tim Sullivan, President of Henry Schein Dental, North America. “As the exclusive professional product sponsor of the Give Kids A Smile program since its inception 12 years ago, Henry Schein is so proud to partner with the ADA, 3M ESPE and other program supporters, and excited about the visibility Greg Biffle and his amazing No. 16 3M Ford Fusion will bring to this critical issue throughout the racing season.”
Biffle will shift the “Brush with the Biff” program into high gear at the Texas race in April, where he will race a special No. 16 Give Kids A Smile Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. When Biffle drove the No. 16 Give Kids A Smile car in 2013, he brought smiles to race fans everywhere when he took it to victory lane at Michigan.
“We’re excited to rev up the Give Kids A Smile initiative for the 2014 NASCAR season with an expanded program that will deliver the ‘Brush with the Biff’ education message to even more children,” said John Stefanick, Director, Industry & Professional Relations, 3M ESPE Dental Division. “Through our partnership with Greg Biffle and 3M Racing, we can bring new excitement and awareness to the important need for kids’ good dental health. And through our partners in the program, we can share the excitement throughout the dental community.”
In addition to following Biffle on the track, race fans of all ages can put themselves in victory lane with him. Just visit www.3MESPE.com/givekidsasmile to create a photo with Greg Biffle on pit road or with the race-winning trophy in Victory Lane. For more smart dental tips, visit www.2min2x.org, www.MouthHealthy.org and www.Facebook.com/GiveKidsASmile.
The yearlong ADA Give Kids A Smile education program, now in its 12th year, includes a national public service announcement featuring Greg Biffle and ongoing outreach to parents and children through dental offices, community events and media. Throughout the year, more than 1,850 Give Kids A Smile events will be held around the country, providing dental services to approximately 350,000 underserved children.
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About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation’s largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public’s health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA’s state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The public has long relied on the valuable and respected ADA Seal of Acceptance when choosing safe and effective consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA’s flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association’s Web site at www.MouthHealthy.org
About the ADA Foundation
As dentistry’s premier philanthropic and charitable organization, the ADA Foundation is a catalyst for uniting people and organizations to make a difference through better oral health. The ADA Foundation provides educational grants including dental student scholarships and allied dental scholarships; a variety of grants related to access to care and oral health outreach, including grants related to Give Kids A Smile®; and charitable assistance through its Emergency Disaster Assistance Grant Program and Relief Grant Program. The ADA Foundation also provides funding for the Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Center in Gaithersburg, MD (formerly the Paffenbarger Research Center). For more information about the ADA Foundation, visit www.adafoundation.org.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. is the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites. A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the NASDAQ 100® Index, Henry Schein employs more than 16,000 Team Schein Members and serves more than 800,000 customers.
The Company offers a comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 96,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 110,000 additional products available as special-order items. The Company also offers its customers exclusive, innovative technology solutions, including practice management software and e-commerce solutions, as well as a broad range of financial services. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 25 countries. The Company’s sales reached a record $9.6 billion in 2013, and have grown at a compound annual rate of nearly 17% since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.
About CareCredit
For over 25 years CareCredit, a healthcare credit card, has been making it easy for patients to receive desired care. Today, CareCredit is available in over 160,000 enrolled healthcare practices and has been used by over 20 million patients. CareCredit is exclusively selected for their members by many state and national dental associations, including ADA Business ResourcesSM, AGD, AAOMS, and AAP, and is also recommended by leading practice management educators.
About 3M ESPE Dental
3M ESPE is a dental product manufacturer that markets more than 2,000 dental products and services. 3M ESPE dental products are designed to help dental professionals improve their patients’ oral health care. The 3M Digital Oral Care Department, part of the 3M ESPE Division, aims to accelerate and strengthen 3M’s efforts to lead the digital transformation that is occurring in oral care. 3M Health Care, one of 3M’s five Business Groups, provides world-class innovative products and services to help health care professionals improve the practice and delivery of patient care in medical, oral care, drug delivery and health information markets. For more information on the complete 3M ESPE line of dental products, visit the 3M ESPE website at http://www.3MESPE.com or call the 3M ESPE Technical Hotline at 1-800-634-2249. Products are available for purchase through authorized 3M ESPE distributors.
3M and ESPE are trademarks of 3M or 3M Deutschland GmbH.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $31 billion in sales, 3M employs 89,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
