Colgate - Indian Dental Association

HEALTH/SOCIAL

Colgate in partnership with the Indian Dental Association announces the 9^th edition of 

‘Oral Health Month’

With ‘Mission Zero Tooth Cavity’ the mass awareness program will travel across more than 1,000 cities and towns

by Prashant Kapadia

Mumbai, October 11, 2012: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the market leader in oral care, and the Indian Dental Association (IDA), today announced the commencement of the 9^th edition of the Oral Health Month. This 2-month long intensive oral care awareness initiative aims to improve the oral health condition and generate awareness about tooth cavities in the country. Championing the cause of oral health over the last 75 years, the Oral Health Month was launched by Colgate in 2004 as a 6-city program. Today the program reaches people across 1116 cities and towns, in partnership with over 25,000 dentists.

Spanning across October-November, the ‘Oral Health Month’ involves in-clinic free cavity check-ups, school contact programs, mobile dental vans with free cavity check-up facilities and other engaging awareness activities. To avail of a free in-clinic cavity check-up, all one has to do is SMS his/her postal pin code to 5676711 for information on a dentist in their locality. The dentist details are provided as a reply to the SMS. As part of this initiative, 13 mobile dental vans will also travel across 39 cities to make basic oral care facilities accessible to the underprivileged, through the support of IDA dentists.

In addition to this year’s activities planned, Colgate is also planning an awareness drive across orphanages in select cities. As part of this activity, dentists will examine children for a cavity free mouth and will also share basic oral care tips with them. They will also encourage the kids to inculcate healthy eating habits and follow a strict oral care regime.

Announcing the ninth edition of the Oral Health Month, Ms. Rekha Rao, VP Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, said, “Oral care awareness is at the heart of Colgate, with the Oral Health Month being an important pillar of our foundation in the country. We have always believed that it’s critically important to champion the cause of oral health and have consistently led from the front in generating oral care awareness. What started as a conviction to elevate awareness levels and accessibility for better oral health has transformed into the biggest national drive promoting the importance of oral care in the country.”

She further stated, “It is our constant endeavour to take OHM to the next level, each year. This year, we have introduced a new activity where we will reach out to orphanages and conduct free cavity check-ups. This is in line with our commitment of reaching out to as many people as possible. I would like to thank everyone who has been associated with the initiative especially the Indian Dental Association (IDA) dentists who have been relentlessly working with us in making a difference.”

Dr. Ashok Dhoble, Hon. Secretary General, Indian Dental Association added, “We are proud to be associated with Colgate for the Oral Health Month. We have been closely working with them on this initiative for the last eight years and believe that this is an effective campaign to spread awareness on good oral hygiene. For most, oral care is about finding a cure for their toothache, little realizing that a simple daily regime can prevent painful cavities and help them lead a healthier life. Through the initiative, we are encouraging people to have their dental health checked, so that they can understand directly from reputed dentists what remedial action they need to take, as well as learn basic habits that can help maintain better oral health.”

ABOUT THE INDIAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION

The Indian Dental Association (IDA), formed in 1946, is the largest recognized body of dental professionals in India. It has helped shape the National Oral Health Policy. Working towards the promotion, encouragement and advancement of dental and allied sciences the IDA has a national presence with 30 state branches, 1 defense branch and more than 250 local branches spread across India. It has a combined strength of over 50,000 dentists and student members registered with it.

All along, IDA has been in the forefront of oral health campaigns and, towards its goal of attaining optimum oral health in the country, it has initiated quite a few novel activities like SPOT (Spot and Prevent Oral Cancer Trauma) Centres for early detection and treatment of oral cancer, TII (Tobacco Intervention Initiative) Centres for tobacco cessation and behavioral counseling under the banner of its Oral Cancer Foundation, Child Dental Centre for caries treatment and Educational and Training Centres for continuing education for professional advancement of dentists. For details of IDA's projects and programmes, visit IDA Website: www.ida.org.in

ABOUT COLGATE-PALMOLIVE

Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is India’s leading provider of scientifically proven oral care products with multiple benefits at various price points. The range includes toothpastes, toothpowder, toothbrushes and mouthwashes under the “Colgate” brand, as well as a specialized range of dental therapies under the banner of Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals. These have become an essential part of daily oral hygiene and therapeutic oral care in India. The Company also provides a range of personal care products under the ‘Palmolive’ brand name.

Colgate has been ranked as India’s #1 Most Trusted Brand across all categories for four consecutive years from 2003 to 2007 and in 2011 by Brand Equity’s Most Trusted Brand Survey. It is the only brand to be in the top three from 2001-2011. Prior to this, Colgate was also rated as the #1 brand by the A&M – MODE Annual Survey for India’s Top Brands for eight out of nine years during the period 1992 to 2001.

For more information about Colgate’s business and products, visit the Company’s website on the internet at www.colgate.co.in.