Colgate-Palmolive Company Continues its Commitment to Global Oral Health Education at the FDI Annual World Dental Congress.
Colgate-Palmolive Company Continues its Commitment to
Global Oral Health Education at the FDI Annual World Dental Congress
More than 300 Local Children Participate in
Oral Health Activities at Conference to Help Combat Rise in Cavities
Stockholm, Sweden (September 23, 2008) – Continuing its commitment to oral health education for children around the world, Colgate-Palmolive today joined international oral care experts at the FDI Annual World Dental Congress to raise awareness of the importance of preventing cavities and the critical association between oral health and overall health.
Cavities continue to be one of the most common health problems affecting children worldwide and share common risk factors with several leading chronic diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dental cavities affect 60-90% of children throughout the world due to increased sugar consumption and inadequate exposure to fluoride. 1
“Tooth decay among children can be significantly reduced through effective oral health education”, said Dr. Marsha Butler, D.D.S. Vice President, Professional Relations Global Oral Care. “By promoting good oral hygiene early on, children learn how to maintain good oral practice and in result, enjoy a lifetime of oral health.”
Colgate has a long standing commitment to delivering oral health education to children around the world. Developed in close cooperation with an International Advisory Board of educators and dental experts, Colgate launched its flagship global oral care education program “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” in 1991. By establishing partnerships between governments, dental professionals, education professionals, schools and communities, “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” has enabled millions of children to enjoy the benefits of vital oral health education and preventive treatment. Each year, the program reaches 50 million children and their families in 80 countries.
Colgate is featuring a “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” interactive exhibit at the Congress for local school children. This exhibit will include informative computer games, an oral hygiene demonstration including tooth brushing, and the movie, “Dr. Rabbit and the Legend of Tooth Kingdom,” which emphasizes key oral health messaging. This exhibit will also provide more than 300 visiting children with developmentally appropriate, self-esteem-based oral education materials.
As the world leader in oral care, Colgate supports a wide variety of global oral health initiatives, participates in major conferences and meetings and fosters strong partnerships with the world’s dental profession.
“The FDI World Dental Federation supports Colgate on such an important effort to educate young children on the importance of good oral care the “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures’ exhibit,” says Dr. Burton Conrod, President, FDI World Dental Federation. “Children’s oral health is certainly one of our concerns and I would like to praise Colgate’s “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” educational initiative for focusing on the benefits of oral health education and preventive treatment during our Congress.”
CONTACT:
Lone Lenes, Nordic Scientific Affairs Manager
Colgata-Palmolive A/S
Tel direct: +45-43 20 92 56
Mobile: +45-40 80 77 73
1 www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs318/en/index.html
