Tom's of Maine Dental Health For All Program Promotes Oral Care Education and Access

Tom's of Maine, the nation's leading maker of Natural Care products, announces an exciting new five-year program, Dental Health for All, that addresses the critical issues of access to quality oral care and oral health literacy in America.

The 2000 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health calls dental and oral diseases "a silent epidemic." In partnership with the American Dental Education Association, thousands of retail stores, public dental clinics, dental professionals, and consumers, Tom's Dental Health for All program will improve oral health¿especially among children¿by supporting community-based dental facilities in underserved communities throughout the United States. The initiative also educates consumers about the critical link between oral health and overall health.

"One in four American children has never seen a dentist before kindergarten. This is a national problem that is unacceptable yet preventable," says Tom Chappell, co-founder and president of Tom's of Maine. "With Dental Health for All, businesses, individuals and communities can work together to improve the lives of thousands of children and families by bringing resources and awareness where they are most needed ¿ our nation's community health centers."

Here's how the Dental Health for All program works:

Tom's is donating 75,000 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste to 24 public dental clinics in the U.S. Four of these clinics have received grants to purchase dental chairs, x-ray machines and other equipment, enabling them to serve over 6,000 additional patient visits per year.

Dental Health for All displays in over 4,000 stores nationwide will carry educational brochures as well as specially marked boxes of Tom's of Maine toothpaste with a free full-size dental floss inside.

Dental professional partners will share educational brochures, free Tom's of Maine toothpaste samples, and coupons with their patients ¿ and for each coupon redeemed, Tom's will donate $1.00 to the Dental Health for All fund.

Consumers will receive dental health information and can become more involved through volunteerism or donations to the Dental Health for All fund.

Tom's has established an oral care education website portal at www.tomsofmaine.com, with a clinic locater, participating stores, a link to the Surgeon General's report, and other important information for consumers and dental professionals. Visitors can also take the Dental Health for All Check-Up, an online quiz to test their oral health knowledge.

Participating retailers include Brooks, Fred Meyer, Hannaford, Long's Drug, Rite Aid, Shaw's, Stop & Shop, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods, as well as many independent health food stores.