- Over a third (36%) of disabled people feel anxious or
frustrated when it comes to visiting the dentist1
- As the #1 recommended toothbrush brand by dentists worldwide,
Oral-B is dedicated to transforming the dental office experience
for people with disabilities into a more positive one
- Oral-B launches The Disability Champions Award Programme
for dental staff across Europe, in partnership with the iADH
Today, on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Oral-B
proudly launches the Disability Champions Award Programme as
part of its ongoing mission to make oral care more accessible to
everybody. In partnership with the iADH, the programme aims to make
the dentist office experience across Europe more inclusive and
positive for those with disabilities and their caregivers.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240515281762/en/
Benjamin Binot, P&G Europe Oral Care
Senior Vice President, announcing the launch of the Disability
Champions Awards Programme and previewing the new iO2 toothbrush at
Oral-B’s ‘Championing the Perfect Clean for All’ event in
Amsterdam. (Photo: Business Wire)
Over a third (36%) of people with visible and non-visible
disabilities feel anxious or frustrated when it comes to visiting
the dentist. For instance, individuals with Autism Spectrum
Disorder may experience heightened anxiety in unfamiliar
environments such as a dental practice, as it disrupts their normal
routine. Similarly, a patient with Cerebral Palsy, who may face
motor challenges without intellectual disability, might find it
difficult to brush their teeth effectively due to limitations in
fine motor coordination.
To help overcome this, the Disability Champions Award Programme
encourages one member of each dental practice across Europe to
become the personal lead to ensure their practice is committed to
be more disability positive – because sometimes all it takes is one
person to truly make a difference.
By completing the necessary online training and accessibility
suggestions devised by iADH and Oral-B (available at
https://www.iadh.org/oral-b-iadh-disability-champions/) dental
staff who meet the requirements will earn their Disability
Champions award. They receive a badge that can be used within their
office or on social media to encourage others to become Disability
Champions. Their practice will also be visible on Oral-B’s website
to make it easier for people with disabilities and their caregivers
to find disability positive dental practices near them, and to feel
more confident and encouraged about visiting the dentist.
Benjamin Binot, P&G Europe Oral Care Senior Vice President,
said: “Last year, we launched The Big Rethink initiative in
partnership with iADH to rethink how Oral-B can make oral care more
inclusive, accessible, and positive for people with disabilities,
their caregivers, and everyone in between. This year, we are making
our intention good by driving action amongst dental practitioners
with the Disability Champions Awards Programme. With our long-term
partners, the iADH, we have devised a programme that is
straightforward for dental staff to undertake and promote, and that
demonstrates their commitment to raising the standard of oral care
for people with disabilities.”
Professor. Pedro Diz Dios, President Elect of iADH, said: “At
the iADH, we are about promoting equitable oral care. However, we
often find that dental practitioners have pre-conceived notions of
what makes their practice inclusive, accessible, and positive for
people with disabilities and their caregivers. We want to help
dentists rethink how to provide a better service for all and
believe that appointing one person in the organization to become a
Disability Champion will help drive the right change forward. The
hope is that as many dental practices as possible across Europe
take part in the Disability Champions Award Programme and make
better oral care for all a reality.”
The Disability Champions Awards Programme is being launched at
Oral-B’s ‘Championing the Perfect Clean for All’ global event being
held in Amsterdam between 15-16th May. Over 100+ media, dental
professionals and people with disabilities will learn more about
the programme, hear inspiring stories from the latest Disability
Champions, and experience first-hand how Oral-B plans to bring a
better oral care experience to people with disabilities - at the
dentist practice and at home. Indeed, Oral-B is previewing its new
Oral-B iO2 toothbrush that will bring its revolutionary iO
technology to a wider audience, including people with
disabilities.
The iO2 is crafted to effortlessly transition manual toothbrush
users to electric toothbrushes by bringing Oral-B’s iO technology
to life with one simple touch for a simpler, more intuitive
cleaning experience that’s tough on plaque and gentle on gums! The
dentist-inspired round brush head surrounds teeth, perfectly
adapting to their unique shape, removing 100% more bacterial plaque
than regular manual brushes even in hard-to-reach areas of the
mouth. The iO2 will also come with a new brush head with Smart
Bristles that now fully fade their colour to white, making it easy
to know when it's time to change your brush head.
1 The Oral Health & Disability European Study (2022)
surveyed 5,000 respondents across UK, France, Germany and Italy
Notes to editor:
- About the research: The Oral Health & Disability European
Study (2022) surveyed 5,000 respondents across UK, France, Germany
and Italy, and was conducted by Reputation Leaders on behalf of
Oral-B
- For more information on The Disability Champions Awards
Programme, please visit here. The website offers relevant and
helpful content for people with disabilities, their caregivers, and
families, as well as the professional community.
- Please contact your local Oral-B press office for more
information and on local availability of iO2
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the
strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands,
including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bold®, Braun®, Daz®, Fairy®,
Febreze®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Herbal Essences®,
Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Tampax®, Venus® and
Vicks®.
Although headquartered in the US, P&G was founded by an
Englishman and an Irishman in 1837, our heritage lives on through
the work of Research & Development Centres, Manufacturing
Plants and Business sites, across the UK & Ireland.
Beyond our Purpose, Values & Principles, the foundation on
which P&G was built and our guiding force for over 180 years,
we aspire to be a force for growth so that we can be a force for
growth in the communities in which we live and work. Through our
citizenship priorities, we want to build a better world for all of
us - inside and outside of P&G - free from gender bias, with
equal voice and equal representation. Environmental sustainability
is embedded into our business, and has been for decades, and we
have a strong track record of delivering on our goals in this area.
We support communities around the world through our people, our
brands and our partners by delivering the comforts of home, health
and hygiene.
About Oral-B
Oral-B® exists to help people Brush Like a Pro. Oral-B® was
founded in 1950 by a California periodontist, who invented an
innovative toothbrush to help his patients achieve healthier teeth
and gums at home. Oral-B® continues to stay true to his mission and
is today the worldwide leader in the over $5 billion brushing
market. Part of the Procter & Gamble Company, the brand
manufactures electric toothbrushes and toothpaste for adults and
children, oral irrigators, and interdental products.
About the International Association for Disability and Oral
Health (iADH)
The iADH is a global organization with over 8000 members from
all sectors of health and social care interested in disability and
oral health who work to share their scientific knowledge, research,
clinical skills and collective experience to reduce barriers to
care and improve oral health outcomes for people with
disability.
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ORALCARERBU_MSL_TEAM_GBR@pgone.co.uk