Pepsodent celebrate World Oral Health Day by giving over 100 000 South African children something to smile about

“It takes 21 days to form a habit and the need for intervention and education around oral health is urgently required. It is for this reason that initiatives such as these are vital in creating a movement for change in a more favourable direction,” says Dr Yvette Solomons, chairperson of the South African Dental Association board.

 

“Focusing on changing the brushing habits and negative perceptions around oral hygiene at a primary school level is key, as good life-long habits can be easily formed at this age. If this program can effectively communicate the importance of brushing one’s teeth for two minutes, twice a day (day and night) with a fluoridated toothpaste such as Pepsodent, then the lives of 100 000 children, and their families and community, will be changed for the better.”

 

Dr Solomons adds that by incorporating these three vital and cost effective elements into your daily routine, along with other simple measures such as consuming less sugar and going for regular dental check-ups when possible, one can reduce the risk of contracting an oral disease. If left unattended, oral hygiene can drastically decline, resulting in intense pain, ill health, absenteeism from life commitments and mounting dentistry expenses, which the majority of people are unable to afford.

 

Oral disease, specifically in children, can impact their self-esteem, and they may avoid laughing or smiling due to the perceived poor appearance of their teeth.  Absenteeism from school due to dentistry issues can impact not only their academic progress and learning but also their social interactions and growth.

 

“Through this programme, we aim to inspire a positive change in the behavior of South African children, and hope that they go on to inspire their families and communities when it comes to brushing their teeth in the correct manner,” says Sphele Mjadu, PR manager for Unilever. “Helping South African children to overcome fears around visits to the dentist and getting them to take an active interest in their own oral hygiene will go a long way in establishing good oral routines that become a habit for life, leading to not only healthier communities, but happier ones too. This also ties in with the theme for this years’ WOHD: It all starts here. Healthy mouth, healthy body,” adds Mjadu.

 

For more information, visit unilever.com. Alternatively, connect with Unilever on Facebook, Twitter or on LinkedIn using the #Brushbrush hashtag.