Spreading The Gift Of Smile

      

Tentist at work

By KASIE ABONE

The burden of oral health among school children and adults globally is endemic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, 60 to 90 per cent of school children and nearly 100 per cent of adults have dental cavities often leading to pain and discomfort. Report also had it that severe periodontal gum disease, which may result in tooth loss, is found in 15 to 20 per cent of middle-aged adults between the ages of 35 and 44, while about 30 per cent global population aged between 65 and 74 have no natural teeth.

Among the poor and disadvantaged children and adult population found especially in rural communities, oral disease is higher, the report says. Across the world, 16 to 40 per cent of children in the age range 6 to 12 years old are affected by dental trauma due to unsafe, unsafe schools, road accidents, or violence. Toothache is the number one reason for absenteeism from schools in many countries.

As the March 20 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) approaches, Oral B, Procter & Gamble’s brand of oral hygiene products range of toothbrushes and toothpastes, has demonstrated its commitment to total oral healthcare with the unveiling of Oral-B ’Sharing Smiles’ campaign in Lagos. The campaign aligns with this year’s global theme: “Celebrating Healthy Smiles,” a reflection of the major contribution of oral health makes daily lives of people around the world.

Structured ultimately to reach disadvantaged communities who cannot afford dental care products and consultations with dentists, the Oral-B team takes advantage of the World Oral Health Day (WOHD) to spread its message of ‘Sharing Smiles’.

The campaign is targeted at providing free dental services through Oral B’s Mobile Dental Clinic (MDC) to people who ordinarily cannot afford dental services. Throughout the period of the campaign, members of the disadvantaged communities drawn from Lagos, Abuja and Oyo States will have the opportunity to receive free dental care services at these mobile clinics, which are fully equipped with dental care tools and gadgets to provide these services. The clinics are also fully staffed by qualified dentists who would daily attend to the needs of these communities in terms of offering treatment and advice.

Brand Communications and Consumer Relations Manager, Procter and Gamble, Mr. Ayotomiwa Ajewole, said the campaign was the brand’s innovative way of sharing smiles to indigent communities around Nigeria. “Oral B places a high value on dental health and hygiene and this is why we have decided to reach out to these communities to show them we care about their wellbeing, especially as we approach the valentine season – one of love and care.”

Also speaking on the campaign and its benefits, Brand Operations Integrations Manager, Mr. Ojo Folarin, noted that the ‘Sharing Smiles’ campaign is timely in Nigeria where the social life of consumers is hampered due to lack of confidence in their oral hygiene. “With healthy oral habits and consistent oral care, consumers can develop the healthy and fresh breath, increase their confidence in themselves and their abilities. It is also a great opportunity to do something selfless and good for someone else, an opportunity to share a refreshing smile.”

According to Folarin, severe oral distress is caused by a buildup of seemingly minor issues ignored over time. ”Oral B, which now comes in a new family size pack, is unique in that it contains the Stannous complex, which is clinically proven to halt such build ups and ultimately prevent tooth sensitivity, provide protection from tooth holes, limit bacterial build up, prevent tartar build up and reduce gum problems. It also whitens the teeth and aids fresh breath”.

Oral B consumers would be actively involved in the selection process to determine communities that will benefit from the Oral B’s Mobile Dental Clinics. Several communities have already been nominated.

The eventual winners would be chosen through the brand’s Facebook page by involving consumers and all Nigerians in the drive through the Facebook voting App in the choice of location for the MDCs to visit. Consumers are expected to participate in the voting exercise to determine communities that would benefit in the campaign by clicking on one of the displayed communities.

The campaign which will be culminated on the World Oral Health Day which is celebrated worldwide will enable Oral B promote the objective of the day which is to promote the general dental hygiene of the world’s population.

In Geneva last year, the World Dental Federation (FDI) President, Dr. Tin Chun Wong, was quoted in an online source as saying that “over 90 per cent of the world’s population will suffer some form of dental disease in their lifetime, but many of these can easily be treated or prevented with a good oral care routine.” Wong who was speaking at the unveiling of WOHD 2014 logo maintained, “There are more than two million oral health care professionals around the world and in 2014, we hope that they will join together with us and our partners, to make World Oral Health Day a worldwide success.”

FDI kicked off the 2014 campaign with a presentation of a revamped WOHD logo. The re-vitalised image represents a happy, healthy smile that transmits the essence of World Oral Health Day, a day where everyone around the world can take part in celebrating healthy smiles.

The new logo is accompanied by a creative campaign that celebrates the positive things that can be enjoyed when one has a healthy mouth such as laughing, eating or kissing. FDI’s Executive Director Jean-Luc Eiselé, was quoted as saying, “We want to celebrate healthy smiles.”  Reiterating this year’s campaign claim, he said “The vitality of the smile seen in our new logo is the same vitality that we want to see in everyone’s face on World Oral Health Day, be it in Nepal, Croatia or Chile. We want to spread the message of good oral health and the importance of a good oral care routine to local communities around the world and reduce the suffering and burden of oral disease.”

World Oral Health Day is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance to everyone, old and young, of practicing good oral hygiene. In addition, the day offers the dental and oral health community a platform for action to help reduce the global oral disease burden.

Raising awareness around the globe is vital, as 90 per cent of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime ranging from caries, periodontal diseases and tooth decay to oral cancer. FDI helps its member states lobby their governments in order to support prevention, detection and treatment programmes.