Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States and can negatively impact mental health, social, and economic development. Health experts say poor oral health is even linked to a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A sore tooth can also make it difficult to pay attention in the classroom.
Gillian Barclay, Senior Vice President, Global Public Health and Science, Colgate-Palmolive
These facts guide the work of Gillian Barclay, Colgate-Palmolive’s senior vice president of global public health and science.
Berkeley serves as a leader in Colgate-Palmolive’s oral health education efforts and supports the efforts of advocates such as Brighter Smiles, Brighter Futures (BSBF). This program educates children and their families about the relationship and importance of oral health and well-being. Since her founding in 1991, BSBF has provided free dental checkups and oral health education to her 1.6 billion children around the world (and that number continues to grow).
Colgate entered into a partnership with Verily in 2021 to advance understanding of the relationship between oral health and overall health.
In preparation for Pediatric Dental Health Month (February), Mr. Happi spoke with Mr. Barclay about the relationship between oral health and overall health and well-being, and how Colgate-Palmolive extends oral care from basic hygiene to all aspects of oral health. Learn more about how we plan to improve people’s health and well-being.
HAPPI: Why is children’s oral health more important than just “preventing cavities”? What are the stakes here?
Berkeley: The risks are serious and far-reaching. It is especially important for children to develop good oral hygiene habits from an early age. Research shows that almost 50% of the world suffers from oral diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontal disease, as tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children.
This is important because oral health is directly related to your overall health and well-being. Without proper preventive oral care, tooth decay can progress and, if left untreated, can cause pain and infection, leading to problems eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Tooth decay and oral pain can also negatively impact mental health and lead to significant physical, emotional, social, and even financial distress.
Just as you proactively treat any other health condition, the same goes for your oral health. It is important to take a comprehensive preventive approach and maintain good oral care from an early age. By doing so, you can support a healthier and brighter future.
Hapi: Why don’t many people make the connection between oral health and public health?
Berkeley: Oral health is often considered separate from overall health and well-being. We are working to change this perception by improving oral health literacy for adults and children.
The earlier the better, because it’s important to practice good oral hygiene habits from an early age, such as brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes twice a day and visiting the dentist regularly. By doing so, you can reduce your chances of being associated with oral diseases such as: Other chronic diseases. According to the Mayo Clinic, poor oral health can be linked to a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, pregnancy complications, and diabetes. Therefore, it is important for children and adults to be aware of the connection between oral health and overall health so that it is made a priority.
At Colgate-Palmolive, we are staunch champions of a whole-body health approach that connects the mouth with the rest of the body by breaking down silos and integrating oral health into primary health care. We will step up our efforts and work with partners to address the need for comprehensive and coordinated public health action, bridging the gap between oral health and overall health and well-being. I hope you can.
Colgate has expanded its core children’s toothpaste portfolio with larger pack sizes, a value-driven solution for large families.
Hapi: Talk about the success of the “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” program to date and what it means to Colgate-Palmolive as a company.
Berkeley: The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Oral Health Education Program was founded in 1991 to improve the health, education and well-being of children and their families around the world. BSBF will continue to lead global social impact efforts that promote health equity, optimal health and well-being, and empower children and families to achieve healthy, bright futures.
To date, we are proud that this program has reached more than 1.7 billion children, helping them brush their teeth twice a day, eat healthy nutrition, and establish strong oral health habits. We continue to educate you about oral health habits, including sharing helpful resources. In 2021, Colgate Palmolive celebrated his 30th anniversary of BSBF, and in that milestone year alone was able to reach more than 50 million children and families in North America with in-person and virtual visits. .
Our goals continue to expand as we learn more about the benefits this program has on overall health outcomes. We continue to promote lifelong learning opportunities and aim to create brighter smiles and an even brighter future for the world.
HAPPI: What are the plans for this program in 2024?
Berkeley: Colgate-Palmolive’s purpose is to reimagine a healthier future for everyone. So by looking to the future and focusing on inequalities, underserved and marginalized communities, and integrating public health approaches to oral health, the company is building on what BSBF can bring to future generations. It focuses on the social impact that can be made.
Colgate-Palmolive aims to elevate oral care from basic hygiene to health and well-being, and this next-generation approach helps achieve this goal by:
• Reach more children and families with next-generation BSBF programs with new approaches to improving oral health and well-being.
• Collaborate with government, nonprofit partners, dental providers, and nurses to expand school programs to prevent childhood cavities.
• Champion a brighter future for 2 billion children and their families by 2025.
HAPPI: What new products are coming out of the Colgate stable to help children’s oral health? What’s on the horizon?
A brush with a favorite character will make tooth brushing even more fun for your child.
Berkeley: We are proud to be an innovative, growing company that leads and transforms oral health and well-being.We are proud to be an innovative growing company that leads and transforms oral health and well-being. We offer superior products and impactful brand experiences.
Let’s start with adult oral health. Consider Colgate Total Plaque Pro Release toothpaste with smart foam technology that was launched last year. This product features a unique formula that penetrates hard-to-reach areas to fight plaque bacteria along the gum line, improving long-term gum health and strengthening the foundation of a healthy smile. You can smile brightly with healthy teeth and gums. As we like to say, you’ll be “dentist ready.”
For children, our team has been working to find creative and innovative new ways to make brush time more effective for children and their families through the power of memorable music. . BSBF recently partnered with Hip Hop Public Health (HHPH), a nonprofit organization dedicated to building health literacy and health equity, to develop Paste Time, an educational tool that teaches children and their families important elements of good oral hygiene. ‘ has been released. The song is performed by entertainment icon and Hip Hop Public Health co-founder Doug E. Fresh, advancing his BSBF mission to improve the health and well-being of children.
We continue to enhance our children’s services to promote children’s oral health and help build habits through effective yet fun solutions for children. In 2024, we expanded our core children’s toothpaste portfolio with larger pack sizes to enable solutions for larger families while delivering value. We also launched children’s electric and manual toothbrushes under the Minecraft license because we know that characters and licenses are a great motivator for kids to brush their teeth.
