It’s always neat when game developers find some way to cross link their properties with real organizations that help promote health in children. This is no different. Popcap, in association with the American Dental Association (ADA) will be promoting oral health this year with their “Stop Zombie Mouth” campaign that will lead into Halloween. They’ll be doing this by offering up Plants vs Zombies merchandise as a tooth-friendly alternative to candy. PopCap will give away millions of copies of the game, free packs of game-inspired trading cards, and other themed items with tips to keep teeth healthy.

Parents are encouraged to help support this campaign and can obtain the free game coupons from participating ADA member dentists nationwide or by downloading them from www.stopzombiemouth.com.

For more information about the “Stop Zombie Mouth” campaign, check out the full press release below.

Press Release

SEATTLE, Washington—September 10, 2012— The American Dental Association^® (ADA), the leading source of oral health-related information, andPopCap Games, a leading digital games creator and a division of EA, today revealed a joint campaign aimed at encouraging good oral health among U.S. children and their parents. Kicking off today, the “Stop Zombie Mouth” campaign will continue through Halloween, and will feature PopCap’s family-friendly hit 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 beloved “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 ofPlants 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. 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,” said Dr. William Calnon, President of the ADA.

“Tooth decay in children is almost entirely preventable,” said Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, ADA spokesperson on pediatric dentistry. “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 behaviors.”

“We at PopCap have been interested in the potential for video games to provide benefits beyond entertainment for many years,” said John Vechey, PopCap co-founder and franchise studio director at PopCap. “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, NY, 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 a LOT less candy this year!”

About the American Dental Association (ADA)
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation’s largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public’s health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA’s state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. For more oral health information, visit the ADA’s website at www.MouthHealthy.org.

About PopCap

PopCap Games is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000, was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2011, and has a worldwide staff of more than 600 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap’s games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled^®, has sold more than 50 million units.