Written by Louisa Rowntree

Wrigley’s Extra is proud to, once again, be a Platinum sponsor of National Smile Month in 2013. Wrigley is committed to improving oral care understanding across the UK through its Oral Healthcare Programme which is why we work together with organisations like the BDHF to promote better oral health.

It’s Wrigley’s mission to help patients to improve their oral healthcare routine through adding one simple and enjoyable step between twice-a-day brushing. And that is chewing sugarfree gum after eating and drinking, a convenient way for patients to look after their teeth whether in the car, in the office or ‘on the go’. Our message is supported by powerful independent research that proves that chewing sugarfree gum after eating and drinking increases the production of saliva and that this increased saliva flow helps the neutralisation of plaque acids, helps maintain tooth mineralisation and helps reduce oral dryness.

For many years Wrigley has been working with dental professionals in the UK to support the work they do with their patients to advise and help them to improve their oral health. We attend professional conferences and exhibitions up and down the country meeting dentists, hygienists, nurses and therapists providing them with the scientific information and samples they need to help them recommend chewing sugarfree gum to their patients as part of their oral care routine.

This year Wrigley launched the first of a new series of free web-based Continuing Professional Development sessions as part of our on-going efforts to support dental professionals in their role as oral care educators, providing the knowledge they need about the benefits of chewing sugarfree gum to pass onto their patients. The new CPD series is based on the recently released book, Saliva and Oral Health, Fourth Edition (by Michael Edgar, Colin Dawes and Denis O’Mullane, December 2012) and it has been created in partnership with Stephen Hancocks Ltd.

As part of our continued investment in oral care, 2013 has also seen the launch of a new 46-pellet bottle. It’s convenient size and shape means that it can be carried around in a handbag, placed in the car or simply placed on a desk in the office, all those places where ‘grazers’ – people who eat small meals and snacks throughout the day – one of the groups most at risk of developing oral health problems, are likely to be found.

In research* conducted by Wrigley 85% of consumers surveyed agreed that it is a great idea to chew sugarfree gum after eating and drinking which supports Wrigley’s efforts to promote the idea of on-the-go oral healthcare through its Eat, Drink, Chew, Extra campaign. That’s the message we’re passionate about and we’re working hand in hand with dental professionals to help spread the word. For more information or to order free samples of Extra sugar free gum for your patients visit our website on www.wrigleyoralhealthcare.co.uk.

*1,000 UK adults (aged 16+) surveyed 11th December 2012 by One Poll. OnePoll are members of ESOMAR and employ members of the MRS. Office professionals included in this research refer to respondents in full time work.

  

Oral Health Foundation

The Oral Health Foundation is a charity that works to improve oral health by providing education, advice, and support to millions of people every year, changing lives for the better. Our mission is to support others in achieving a healthier life through better oral health. Our vision is to live in a world where everybody has a healthy mouth and is free of dental disease. Poor oral health can have a harmful and devastating effect on a person’s life – both for their physical health and mental wellbeing. We are determined to help more people achieve good oral health and have a better quality of life. Sadly, oral disease remains common, across the life course. We are taking the challenge to reduce the harm caused by poor oral health and the responsibility to create a healthier future for everybody. We do this because we believe that everybody deserves to have good oral health. To make sure this happens, by 2024, we will:

    • Work towards decreasing the prevalence of oral disease across communities.
    • Increase the number of people accessing our help and information services.
    • Diversify our range of resources to reach more communities.
    • Successfully campaign for policies which help people achieve healthier lives.
    • Generate new and nurture existing income streams that enable us to deliver our charitable objectives.

We are going to achieve success by:

    • Running awareness campaigns like National Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Action Month.
    • Giving anybody who needs it direct support through our Dental Helpline.
    • Influencing policy on subjects like dental access, sugar, and tobacco.
    • Providing consumer advice on oral health care products and working alongside manufacturers to make sure products do what they claim to do.
    • Creating resources and information that communicates positive oral health messages.
    • Working alongside others who share our passion for health and wellbeing.

To find out more about us, visit our website at https://www.dentalhealth.org/

Add a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *