Laila Ali Appointed Spokesperson for Kids' Healthy Mouths Campaign by The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives and the Ad Council

NEW YORK, April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Laila Ali, athlete, health advocate and mom, has been announced as the new campaign spokesperson for the Kids' Healthy Mouths public service advertising (PSA) campaign. The campaign, developed by the Ad Council and a coalition of more than 35 leading dental organizations (The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives), sheds light on the importance of children brushing their teeth – a basic task yet constant struggle for many parents.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130403/NY88091 )

Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease with more than 16 million kids suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S. Launched in August 2012, the English and Spanish-language multimedia campaign jokes about the silly things children spend their time doing when they could take 2 minutes, twice a day to brush their teeth.

"Not only can poor dental health affect children's overall health, it also can lead to significant school hours missed," said Gary Price of the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Health Lives. "We are so pleased to have Laila on board to help elevate the importance of kids' oral health among parents and caregivers so that we can get more kids brushing properly, resulting in fewer cavities and oral pain."

Through a series of social media and public relations efforts, Laila Ali will extend our "Tooth To-Dos" to parents nationwide. These oral health tips include the following:  

1. Make sure your kids brush with fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes, twice a day.

• Use a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste for kids ages 2 to 6, and use slightly more when they're older. Teach them to spit out the toothpaste when they're done so they don't swallow it.
• For kids younger than age 2, use a soft toothbrush and a little water; no toothpaste is necessary.

2. Teach your kids to floss between their teeth once a day, every day, to remove plaque and food where a brush can't reach. Kids' teeth can be flossed as soon as two of their teeth touch each other.

3. Start taking your child to the dentist regularly no later than age 1.

"As a mother, I know what it's like to try to wrangle your kids into brushing their teeth. But through my involvement with the Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign, I have also been reminded how important it is," said campaign spokesperson, Laila Ali. "I am looking forward to spreading the message that brushing for 2 minutes twice a day is essential for good oral health and that it can actually be fun and easy with the videos and tools available online."  

The mouth is the gateway to a person's overall health, and an unhealthy mouth can be associated with obesity, diabetes and even heart disease. Additionally, oral disease disproportionately affects minority children and those from low-income families; these children have almost twice the amount of untreated tooth decay than others in the general population.

"Our research shows that less than half (44 percent) of parents report that their child brushes his or her teeth twice a day," said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. "Laila's role as a mother of young children and her commitment to healthy living make her the perfect partner for our Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign."

Created pro bono by ad agencies Grey Group and Wing in New York, the new Kids' Healthy Mouths public service campaign is the first in the Ad Council's 71 year history to address oral health.

For more information about the Kids' Healthy Mouths campaign visit 2min2x.org.

About Laila Ali
Laila Ali is a world-class athlete, fitness & wellness expert, cooking enthusiast, founder of the Laila Ali Lifestyle Brand and mother of two toddler-aged children. In addition to her latest work as a cast member of NBC's highly touted reality program "Stars Earn Stripes" where she competed to raise money for a charity that supports veterans and their children, Laila is currently the host of "Everyday Health" airing nationwide on ABC, and former co-host of "American Gladiators." Laila also authored and published a motivational book for young women titled "Reach!" (Hyperion, 2003). She has appeared in various cooking segments on Rachael Ray, as well as Food Network's "Emeril," "Paula Dean" and "Chopped All-Stars" with tasty recipes geared towards a healthy, active lifestyle. In 2007 she captured the hearts of millions and made it to the final round of the fourth season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." She's also appeared as a guest-star on popular fitness show, "Biggest Loser" and tickled America's funny-bone with a hilarious role opposite Kevin Hart on the hit comedic series, "Real Husbands Of Hollywood."

About the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives
The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives (www.healthymouthshealthylives.org) 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, 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 and the Society of American Indian Dentists.

About the Ad Council
The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) 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 effected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. For more information, please visit www.adcouncil.org. You can also visit www.facebook.com/adcouncil or follow the Ad Council on Twitter @AdCouncil.

SOURCE The Ad Council