Colgate-Palmolive Expands Successful Oral Health Campaign at World Dental Congress in Dubai

Dubai, October 23, 2007: Colgate-Palmolive opened the 'Bright Smiles, Bright Futures' Marquee on the first day of the FDI World Dental Congress at Dubai's World Trade Centre today. 500 children were guided through proper oral health techniques in line with the successful Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) campaign, which has been in progress in the UAE since 2006 through private clinics.

The award winning global oral health education program has reached approximately 500 million children and their families in 30 languages and 80 countries throughout the world, in line with Colgate Palmolive's corporate values of Caring, Global Teamwork and Continuous Improvement.

"Colgate-Palmolive aims to establish partnerships with key dental health officials and ministries in the UAE. The BSBF programme is an award-winning initiative offered in primary schools, targeted to improving the oral health of children through education and prevention. We would like to broaden its scope in the region with new, fruitful partnerships," commented Richard Mener, President, Africa-Middle East, Colgate-Palmolive.

The programme was first implemented in 2004 in KSA through Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Education. BSBF is very active in KSA and reaches thousands of Grade 1 children. BSBF is also active in Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE.

Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Bin Arab, Director of the Dental Department of the UAE Ministry of Health, applauded the BSBF initiative, stating that: "As elsewhere in the world, the UAE faces a serious oral health record due to increasing consumption of sugar and junk food. Oral health statistics in the UAE suggest that 70-80 per cent of the population suffers from dental cavities. We must take action to inform our children about the advantages of long-term oral health, because the consequences of neglect are dire."

At the FDI Bright Smiles, Bright Futures' Marquee, children participated in educational activities promoting oral healthcare in a fun way.  Trained dental students demonstrated the benefits of good oral hygiene by taking the children through three different stations including a brushing station, a video theater and an art/drawing activities station. At the end, all the children received Colgate dental health care packs.

FDI President Michele Aerden stated: "The FDI World Dental Federation is delighted to partner with Colgate on such an important effort to educate young children on the importance of good oral care at the 'Bright Smiles, Bright Futures' Marquee. This is critical because severe dental decay can have a detrimental impact on young children's quality of life.  Dental decay can cause pain, poor sleep and eating habits and behavioural problems. The good news is that it can be prevented, and it is simple to teach children how to take responsibility for their own oral health."

Oral health encompasses all oral conditions: dental caries, gum disease, derangement of oral facial tissues and other oral pathology including oral cancer. Many experts concur that the oral health situation is worsening in developed countries such as the UAE and according to the World Health Organization, dental cavities affect 60 to 90 per cent of schoolchildren and a vast majority of adults throughout the world, mainly due to growing sugar consumption and inadequate exposure to fluorides.

Dr. Marsha Butler, Colgate-Palmolive Vice President, Global Oral Health and Professional Relations said, "Parents are gatekeepers for their children's well-being, and they can prepare their children for a lifetime of good oral health from a young age. All it takes is to supervise two minutes of proper brushing and flossing per day to strengthen developing teeth. If they start early and make it a fun part of kids' daily routine, parents will have instilled good habits for a lifetime. The rewards are enormous:  the mouth is a vital part of overall health."

Research has shown that there may be a link between oral disease and other health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.  Poor oral health among children has also been related to poor performance in school, and less success later in life.

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About Colgate-Palmolive:
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal are, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Tom's of Maine, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's web site at http://www.colgate.com.

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© Press Release 2007