Colgate healthy mouth challenge

Colgate is challenging the nation to take its Healthy Mouth Challenge to uncover the perceived state of their oral health, and to encourage them to try new and improved Colgate Total Toothpaste to see if they can feel the difference.

When it comes to a trip to the dentist, 36% of the British public admit to feeling mild anxiety and a further 12% to feeling extremely anxious*.

Colgate's aim is that the Healthy Mouth Challenge will increase consumer's awareness about their oral health and help them feel better informed when sitting in the dentist's chair.

Not intended as a replacement to a visit to the dentist, but rather as a prompt to help people re-evaluate the importance of their twice daily oral care routine, the short, interactive quiz covers everything from teeth and gums; to sensitive teeth and smile confidence; to fresh breath and whitening; providing advice and guidance, helping them to be more prepared for their next visit to the dentist.

The Healthy Mouth Challenge can also helps consumers identify early warning signs, and gives advice and top tips on how to achieve and maintain optimal oral health. Once complete, the quiz will give a guide on the condition of their oral health.

The results of the challenge will help to reinforce the importance of keeping mouths healthy. They will also equip patients with relevant questions to ask you their dental professional. The test can be repeated over time to help track any improvements and keep their oral health routine in check.

Coinciding with the launch of its Healthy Mouth Challenge, Colgate has reformulated Colgate Total toothpaste.

Evidence based dentistry includes the integration of best evidence, clinical judgement and patient values and circumstances. There are varying levels of filtered and unfiltered information which determine the quality and strength of the evidence.

The strength of evidence found within the Department of Health guidance document ‘Delivering Better Oral Health-An evidence-based tool kit for prevention'1 ranges from level V evidence, ‘opinions of respected authorities based on clinical evidence and descriptive studies', to level I evidence, ‘strongest evidence from at least one systematic review, of multiple, well designed, randomised control trial/s'.

‘Delivering Better Oral Health' provides advice and support to be given to patients to improve their plaque control and gingival health, and states level I evidence suggests a toothpaste containing triclosan in combination with a copolymer as well as fluoride is more effective than an ordinary fluoride toothpaste in improving plaque control and gingival health.

Additionally, studies reported in a recent special issue of the Journal of Clinical Dentistry demonstrate evidence that toothpaste containing 0.3% triclosan and 2.0% copolymer provides superior reduction in plaque and gingival index versus toothpaste containing 0.454% stannous fluoride, sodium hexametaphosphate and zinc lactate.

Also, a new clinical study shows that Colgate Total is 72% more effective at reducing plaque bacteria regrowth, 12 hours after toothbrushing, versus a stannous fluoride toothpaste.

The new and improved Colgate Total continues to provide superior plaque reduction for better gingival health.

Now in addition, it protects sensitive teeth by sealing exposed open dentine tubules, is more effective at reducing supra-gingival calculus build up, and has improved stain removal properties. Colgate Total also contains 1450ppm sodium fluoride providing maximum caries control and protection against enamel erosion.

Now you can protect your patients from the most common dental problems by recommending new and improved Colgate Total toothpaste reducing cavities, plaque, gum problems, sensitive teeth, tartar, enamel erosion, staining and  bad breath.

Reference
Delivering Better Oral Health-An evidence-based toolkit for prevention, Department of Health, second edition July 2009.

To find out more about Colgate Total and the Colgate Healthy Mouth Challenge, please visit  www.colgateprofessional.co.uk or www.healthymouthchallenge.co.uk