For eleven-year-old Crystal Gonzalez of Los Angeles, California, a toothbrush is literally a dream come true.
The fifth grader at Birdielee V. Bright Elementary has captured first prize in a toothbrush design contest sponsored by Dr. Fresh, maker of fun kid's oral care products, in celebration of February's National Children's Dental Health Month. Crystal says her winning idea for a "talking toothbrush came to her in a dream. In the contest entitled "Be A Dental Inventor, kids were asked to design a toothbrush they thought would motivate their peers to brush thoroughly and regularly. Dr. Fresh is a Buena Park, California-based company (www.drfresh.com) known for its bright and sparkly, best-selling FireFly toothbrushes that light up and flash to encourage longer brushing.
"We've always believed that dental hygiene can and should be fun for children. Crystal's talking toothbrush encourages kids to keep on brushing with sayings like ˜Mom is going to be proud,' and ˜Your teeth sparkle like stars,' says Dr. Fresh. "The contest proves once again that kids have the brightest ideas. We plan to produce Crystal's design so kids everywhere can have fun brushing with it.
Crystal will receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and trip to the Disneyland Resort. While there, she will also meet with the design team at the Dr. Fresh headquarters in nearby Buena Park. Two runners-up will each receive $250 U.S. Savings Bonds. First-runner up Craig Miller, 9, a fourth grader at Carroll Elementary in Southlake, Texas, said his toothbrush "would have an animal head at the top¦a dog, cat, bird, frog or tiger, and would make the appropriate sound. Second runner-up Ricardo Kuchimpos, an eight-year-old third grader at North Hollywood's Camellia Avenue School, designed an alarm brush with rainbow lights and glowing blue stars.
Dr. Fresh manufactures a host of popular and affordable oral care and personal health products, including Fire Fly, the number two selling children's toothbrush in the nation. (www.drfresh.com.)
For more information, contact Megan Brown at (323)650-2201 or at lightyearsahead@sbcglobal.net
