ADA, PopCap Games announce campaign offering tooth-friendly alternative to Halloween treats

SEATTLE, Washington—The American Dental Association, a source of oral health-related information, and PopCap Games, a digital games creator and a division of EA, has announced a joint campaign aimed at encouraging good oral health among U.S. children and their parents.

The “Stop Zombie Mouth” campaign will continue through Halloween, and will feature PopCap’s family-friendly video game, Plants vs. Zombies as a tooth-friendly alternative to candy.

PopCap will give away millions of copies of the game, more than a million free packs of game-inspired trading cards, and other themed items with tips to keep teeth healthy, brought to life by the title’s “fundead” icons, as well as new characters created just for the campaign.

Parents and other adults who host trick-or-treating children on Halloween can obtain the free game coupons (redeemable for the full PC/Mac edition of Plants vs. Zombies) via participating ADA member dentists nationwide or by downloading them from www.stopzombiemouth.com.

The coupons, trading cards, and other themed materials are designed to raise awareness of the importance of kids’ oral health in addition to providing a fun alternative to sugary treats on Halloween night.

“Tooth decay is five times more prevalent than asthma and results in more than 51 million hours of missed school each year,” said Dr. William Calnon, president of the ADA.

"Diet plays an important role in oral health. Too much sugar can lead to cavities down the road, which is why the ADA is proud to team up with PopCap on the ‘Stop Zombie Mouth’ campaign."

Added Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, ADA spokesperson on pediatric dentistry: “Tooth decay in children is almost entirely preventable. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and eating a balanced diet can lead to improved oral health and improved overall health. Working collaboratively, we can educate whole families in a fun way about the importance of proper oral health habits.”

According to John Vechey, PopCap co-founder and franchise studio director at PopCap, “We at PopCap have been interested in the potential for video games to provide benefits beyond entertainment for many years. We’re passionate about the very important cause behind the ‘Stop Zombie Mouth’ campaign and proud to be highlighting yet another positive effect that games can have on society.”

“We usually buy and give away a small mountain of candy at Halloween,” said Liza Geonie of Northport, N.Y., who plays Plants vs. Zombies with her 5-year old son.

“Now we’ll be presenting trick-or-treaters with a choice: a piece of candy or a free video game. We feel great about giving kids a healthier option that’s a ton of fun, and we’re planning on buying MUCH less candy this year!”

For more oral health information, visit www.MouthHealthy.org.

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