Colgate and Hip Hop Public Health Launch Paste Time Educator Toolkit for Oral Health Education

Colgate and Hip Hop Public Health Launch Paste Time Educator Toolkit for Oral Health Education. Images: © Colgate © Hip-Hop Public Health

In a collaborative effort to address the global issue of childhood cavities, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF) program and Hip Hop Public Health (HHPH) have announced the release of the Paste Time Educator Toolkit. This educational resource is designed to assist educators in seamlessly incorporating oral health education into their curricula, using an engaging and music-centric approach that is free to access.

Building on the success of their bilingual song, "Paste Time," the Paste Time Educator Toolkit was developed in consultation with experts as well as with Hip Hop Public Health's Educator Review Group. Aligned with National Health Education Standards, National Physical Education Standards, and Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) core competencies, the toolkit aims to equip educators to teach students about the critical importance of good oral health, according to a press release from the company.

The Paste Time Educator Toolkit offers a comprehensive set of resources for teachers. These include a well-structured lesson plan, classroom slides, interactive activities, family take-home materials, teaching guidance, and optional lesson extension activities. Although developed with third to fifth graders in mind, the toolkit's flexible design allows educators to adapt the materials for elementary students at all grade levels.

Lindsey Harr, Chief Programs and Operations Officer for Hip Hop Public Health, expressed enthusiasm about the toolkit, stating, "Every single day, educators are out there, doing incredible work, empowering young people with the lifelong skills they need to champion their 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."

Dr Gillian Barclay, Senior Vice President Global Oral Health and Scientific Affairs at Colgate-Palmolive Company, and a Hip Hop Public Health Board Member, emphasized the power of music in making messages memorable. She stated, "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, known for 15 years of using music and culture to improve health in underserved communities, believes in removing access barriers for teaching, learning, and health literacy. The Paste Time video, produced and composed by Q. Worth and co-writer BJ Gray, features contributions from Doug E. Fresh, Dr Olajide Williams of Columbia University, youth artist Heaven, and Dr Monique "Docta Mo Flow" Hedmann-Maxey.

Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, established in 1991, has reached over 1.6 billion children in more than 100 countries with oral health education. The program strategically partners to reach underserved children and their families, promoting health equity and empowering them to achieve healthy and bright futures. In the United States, BSBF dental vans, based in hub cities, travel to rural and urban communities, raising awareness about the importance of children's oral health.