By Princewill Ekwujuru

Unilever Nigeria Plc, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigerian Dental Association, NDA, is raising awareness on the importance of brushing  twice daily to avoid dental decay.

It is estimated that more than 1 billion people do not use toothpaste based fluoride, and over 3 billion do not brush their teeth twice a day.

Global Vice President, Oral Care , Unilever, Severine Vauleon, speaking at this year’s World Oral Health Day  tagged: ‘Live Mouth Smart’, stated: “We know that building good brushing habits in children sets them up for better oral health in the future, which in turn leads to better overall health outcomes.

“Children are powerful behaviour change advocates in their homes, often driving conversation and action with parents around issues like this. We’re confident that kids will love the stories and characters and this will drive their interest and excitement to brush day and night. The result is dental decay affects nearly millions of adults and children.

“Furthermore, untreated tooth decay can have a serious and long-lasting effect on children’s growth, brain development and overall health. With many children consequently missing out on school and social opportunities, they can fail to reach their full potential in life.”

In his remarks, president of NDA, Dr. Bode Ijarogbe, stated: “We need to empower people to take control of their oral health – throughout life – so they can enjoy a healthy, functional mouth from childhood into old age. Maintaining optimal oral health into old age ensures you live not only a longer life, but also one free from the physical pain and often emotional suffering caused by oral disease.”