The ADA has brought back the character of Hermey the Elf from the Christmas classic "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to promote oral care for good girls and boys during the current holiday season.
Hermey appeared in a series of holiday TV specials starting in 1964. Hermey never fit in with other elves, but instead he always dreamed of becoming a dentist.
In 2014, the ADA awarded Hermey a dental do-gooder (DDG) certificate as part of a holiday campaign to promote teethbrushing and visiting the dentist.
The ADA is reprising that message this year, featuring Hermey in patient resources, including coloring pages and brushing charts available on MouthHealthy.org. ADA members are encouraged to share the resources with their patients.
