The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) program and Hip Hop Public Health (HHPH) are excited to announce the launch of the Paste Time Educator Toolkit. This free online educational resource is designed to assist educators in seamlessly incorporating oral health education into their curriculum. The toolkit is a continuation of the partnership between BSBF and HHPH, which introduced the bilingual song, “Paste Time,” serving as an educational tool to teach essential elements of good oral hygiene to children and their families.
Developed by health and education experts, with valuable input from Hip Hop Public Health’s Educator Review Group, the Paste Time Educator Toolkit aligns with National Health Education Standards, National Physical Education Standards, and Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) core competencies. Its primary goal is to empower educators in conveying the significance of good oral health to students, a crucial aspect considering that the World Health Organization estimates that 514 million children globally suffer from caries in primary teeth. In the United States, caries stands as the most common chronic disease of childhood. While preventable, untreated cavities can result in pain and infections, leading to difficulties in eating, speaking, playing, and learning.
Accessible at https://www.hhph.org/toolkit/paste-time, the Paste Time Educator Toolkit equips teachers with resources to effortlessly integrate oral health education into both classroom and extracurricular activities. The toolkit encompasses a comprehensive lesson plan, classroom slides, engaging activities, take-home materials for families, teaching guidance, and optional extensions for lessons. Although designed with third to fifth graders in mind, the flexible nature of the materials allows educators to adapt them for elementary students at all grade levels.
“Every single day, educators are out there, doing incredible work, empowering young people with the lifelong skills they need to champion their health,” said Lindsey Harr, chief programs and operations officer for Hip Hop Public Health. “That’s why we’ve created the Paste Time Educator Toolkit – where music takes center stage to make oral health education engaging and fun. Our vision is that the lesson plans, classroom activities, and family-oriented take-home materials will help teachers and caregivers inspire children to brush their teeth every day and understand the benefits of good oral health.”
“When we think about oral health and its connection to our overall health and wellbeing, we cannot leave any stone unturned in terms of reaching children and their families to eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes,” explained Dr. Gillian Barclay, senior vice president global oral health and scientific affairs, Colgate-Palmolive Company and a Hip Hop Public Health board member. “As a medium, music makes messages memorable, and both Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures and Hip Hop Public Health are laser-focused on promoting health literacy in a manner that is relevant to the communities we serve and helps create brighter futures.”
Hip Hop Public Health is a globally acknowledged organization dedicated to creating research-based educational resources that leverage the influence of music and culture to enhance health outcomes in underserved communities. With a 15-year track record, it employs an evidence-based framework for health promotion and behavior change, offering over 200 educational resources for free streaming to eliminate access barriers in teaching, learning, and health literacy. The “Paste Time” video, produced and composed by Q. Worth and co-writer BJ Gray, features Doug E. Fresh, Dr. Olajide Williams of Columbia University, youth artist Heaven, and Dr. Monique “Docta Mo Flow” Hedmann-Maxey.
Established in 1991, Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program has reached over 1.6 billion children across 100+ countries with oral health education. The program strategically partners to reach underserved children and families where they live, learn, work, and play, promoting health equity and global social impact efforts. In the U.S., BSBF dental vans operate in hub cities, traveling to rural and urban communities to raise awareness about the importance of children’s oral health.
About Hip Hop Public Health
Hip Hop Public Health, a recognized 501c3 organization, creates research-based educational resources using music and culture to improve health in underserved communities. Founded by Dr. Olajide Williams of Columbia University and Doug E. Fresh, it employs a 15-year track record of creating culturally relevant science-based content. The Multisensory Multilevel Health Education Model and Child-Mediated Health Communication framework focus on children as messengers for disease prevention and health promotion. All 200+ educational resources are available for free streaming. For more information, visit www.hhph.org and follow @hhphorg on social media.
About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive Company is an innovative growth company committed to reimagining a healthier future for people, pets, and the planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, and Pet Nutrition, it sells products in 200+ countries and territories under various brands. Recognized for leadership and innovation in sustainability and community wellbeing, the company has achieved milestones in decreasing plastic waste, water conservation, waste reduction, and promoting children’s oral health through the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program. For more information, visit www.colgatepalmolive.com. CL-C
