Toothy toys

BALTIMORE, Maryland--The Open Wide! Toothy Toys that Made Us Smile exhibit, on view at the National Museum of Dentistry, will be extended through April 30, 2011. To read more about the National Museum of Dentistry, go to museum.Take a trip into the not-so-distant past to discover childhood toys with a toothy twist. This nostalgic exhibit features more than 50 objects, ranging from a build-it-yourself rocket toothbrush from the 1960s to a Tooth Invaders video game from 1981. See games, baby dolls, puzzles, and an array of character toothbrushes (from Bugs Bunny to Chuck Norris). “Many of these tooth-related toys are rare windows into our past, while others are still being played with by kids (and adults) today,” said National Museum of Dentistry Executive Director Jonathan Landers. “They all show the creative ways we’ve encouraged children to care for their teeth over the years.” This special exhibit is drawn from the National Museum of Dentistry’s 40,000-object collection of dental treasures and the toy collection of guest curator Elaine M. Miginsky, DDS.For more information, call (410) 706-0600 or visit www.smile-experience.org.To comment on this topic, go to community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/.