During the ‘Adopt a School’ program, 10 students from MKES High School, Malad, played ‘Little Dentists’ and visited over 250 children of Primary School (1st-4th standard) from Sacred Heart High School. The ‘Little Dentists’ spoke to these younger children about their own oral care regime and the importance of good oral habits to prevent cavities. They introduced five important care tips for dental care recommended by Colgate. The ‘Little Dentists’ encouraged the students of Sacred Heart High School to avail of the free cavity check-ups organized at their premise as part of Colgate’s national awareness program - ‘Oral Health Month’. Furthermore, all participating school children pledged to invite their friends and family members to sign up for a free cavity check-up and practice good oral hygiene.
Raveena Tandon graced the occasion and urged mothers to take charge of their children’s dental hygiene regime. She guided the children to the Colgate mobile dental van and along with the ‘Little Dentists’, facilitated the free cavity check-ups. Speaking on the occasion, Raveena Tandon said, “Colgate needs to be commended for an initiative of this scale. Given dramatic changes in lifestyle and food, cavities are a growing concern for today’s generation. It is important to address cavities and their formation in childhood itself to ensure that they do not increase. All mothers should insist on their children brushing twice a day to maintain a healthy mouth. It is important to start the practice yourself for your children to learn and follow. Mothers have a significant role to play in their children following the right oral care routine.”
The ‘Adopt a School’ program is a new initiative in Colgate’s 2011 Oral Health Month Program, to increase awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral habits. As part of this ongoing school program, Little Dentists will reach out to children in community primary schools, spreading the message of good oral care hygiene and pledge for ‘Zero Cavities’.
Announcing the eighth edition of Oral Health Month, Rekha Rao, Vice President Marketing, Colgate India said, “At, Colgate, it is our continuous effort to spread awareness around good oral care. Focused initiatives like the ‘Adopt a School’ during our national oral care awareness program - ‘Oral Health Month’, are an important way to reach children and mothers. With one in every two children in India, suffering from cavities, we are committed to making oral care available to all across the country with a special focus on ‘Zero Cavities’. This year, in association with IDA we will create oral care awareness in approximately 10,000 schools reaching out to 20 lakh school children across India.”
Dr. Ashok Dhoble, Hon. Secretary General, Indian Dental Association said, “We are delighted to partner with Colgate in this national awareness program that has grown phenomenally in the past seven years. In terms of its scale and outreach, ‘Oral Health Month’ is the biggest oral hygiene awareness program held every year in India. This year we are looking at over 25,000 dentists to support and spread basic oral health education and awareness among the masses, especially in the interior rural areas. OHM, this year, aims at ‘Zero Cavities.’”
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 defence branch and more that 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 behavioural counselling 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 (India)
About Colgate-Palmolive (India): 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 for the last 10 years from 2001-2010. 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 http://www.colgate.co.in/
