Smile Squad
Patch Program
Girl Scout Leader Guide
With all the steps included here, this patch program is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Materials and
patches are available to your troop free of charge. Get ready to have some fun!
} Begin: Girl Scouts must complete one activity from each category (Discover,
Connect and Take Action) in order to earn their Smile Squad patch.
} Integrate: As girls complete the requirements to earn the Smile Squad patch, they
will also be able to work on activities to help them earn Girl Scout badges. See key
(listed below).
} Finish: You can order Smile Squad patches for your troop by visiting the website below.
Website
Download select activity materials or order hard copies and oral health storybooks free
of charge by visiting www.deltadental.foundation/smile-squad.
Key
Watch for these badge symbols next to activities that satisfy part of the badge requirements.
My Best Self Badge Snacks Badge
Eating for You Badge Staying Fit Badge
Questions
} Email Megan Schreier at mschreier@deltadentalmi.com.
Getting Started
A program overview for troop leaders
Smile Squad
Patch Program
Explore the wonders of the human mouth to earn
your Smile Squad patch!
Use your creativity and scouting skills to learn how your mouth links to your
overall health and well-being. Review good dental habits, try an oral health
experiment, discover how hidden sugars can damage your teeth, and learn
about the importance of brushing twice a day and reading every day for a
healthy body and mind! Master the topics to earn your patch and join
Delta Dental’s Smile Squad!
Complete one activity from each
category below to earn your patch!
Connect
Discover Take Action
} Interview a dental professional or student
Ask about how they help people have healthy teeth and mouths and what people can
do to take care of their teeth at home. Or, talk with them about their job and what they
do each day. Include the type of education/training needed for this career. What types
of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classes should you take? Write a
brief report sharing what you learned.
} Try fun oral health science activities
Complete three activities from the “Science Activity Cards.”
(Download/order free of charge from our website.)
Snap pictures of each activity. Create a photo album
to share what you learned.
} Watch a cool video
Visit www.youtube.com/deltadentalmichigan
to watch “From Drool to School” and other
fun oral health educational videos. Create
a poster sharing five facts you learned.
} Examine the inside of your mouth
Draw a diagram showing which teeth
you have, which teeth you’ve lost and
what types of teeth they are.
} Learn about labels
Understand how to identify sugars
when reading nutrition facts on
food and drink labels. It may go
by other words like “honey,”
“dextrose,” or “high fructose
corn syrup.” Highlight sugar
on labels.
Discover
Find out something new about
your teeth and the people who
take care of them.
Connect
Discover Take Action
www.deltadental.foundation/smile-squad
} Track 2 x 2 + 20
It’s important to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and to read for
20 minutes a day. Fill out a brushing and reading chart (download/order free of charge
from our website) to track your daily brushing and reading for one week. For fun, see if
you can keep track for an entire month!
} Record what you drink for one week
Give yourself two points for every 8 ounces of water or low-fat milk you drink, one point
for unsweetened/naturally sweetened drinks such as tea or 100 percent fruit juice, and
zero points for every sugar-sweetened beverage such as soda pop, sports drinks, etc.
Make a poster with your score, what you learned and changes you will make for a
healthier body and smile. Review Delta Dental’s Rethink Your Drink brochure to learn
more. (Download/order free of charge from our website)
} Identify calcium-rich snacks
Draw a picture. Show dierent foods and drinks that are high in calcium and good
for your teeth. Next to the items, show how much calcium is in each one. Calcium is a
mineral vital for building strong bones and teeth and is found in snacks like milk, cheese,
leafy greens, beans, tofu and canned fish.
} Demonstrate healthy habits
Create models of a tooth and toothbrush using household items, and use them in a
demonstration to your troop or an adult on how to properly brush teeth.
} Research tooth culture
Read “Throw Your Tooth On the Roof,”
(order free of charge from our Website.)
and research what children across the
world do with teeth when they lose
them and some of the practices and
beliefs they have about teeth. Write a
brief report aboutthe interesting
things you learned.
Connect
Learn about the important links
between your overall health and
your oral health.
Connect
Discover Take Action
www.deltadental.foundation/smile-squad
} Produce a video or write a song
Make a short video about the importance of healthy teeth and how to take
care of them, or write a two-minute song to play while you brush your teeth.
} Read an oral health storybook
Read the book aloud to a group of children or an
adult, and talk with them about the importance of
brushing their teeth every day. (Order oral health
storybooks free of charge from our website.)
} Collect and donate
Hold a “Smile Drive” to collect toothbrushes
and toothpaste for children in need. Donate
them to a local organization.
} Make water cool
Start a water-drinking campaign for your
troop, family or class that encourages others
to drink more water during the day. Review
Delta Dental’s Rethink Your Drink brochure
to learn more. (Download/order free of
charge from our website.)
Take ction
Put all that you’ve learned into
practice to make a dierence in
your community.
Connect
Discover Take Action
www.deltadental.foundation/smile-squad
Congratulations!
You are now part of the Smile Squad!
Once the activities are completed,
you can order Smile Squad patches for
your troop free of charge by visiting
www.deltadental.foundation/smile-squad.
Girl Scout Patch Curriculum v5 C3 12/23Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana
