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.
To find out more about Tom's Dental Health for All program, contact Kathleen Taggersell at 800-367-8667.
Clinics supported by Tom's of Maine's Dental Health for All Program in 2003-2004
John C. Lincoln Children's Dental Clinic Phoenix, Arizona
Dientes Clinic Santa Cruz, California
Native American Health Center San Francisco, California
Salud Family Health Clinics Fort Lupton, Colorado
Community Health Services Hartford, Connecticut
Howard University Gage-Eckington School Clinic Washington, D.C.
Spanish Catholic Health Center Washington, D.C.
Thena Crowder Dental Clinic Miami, Florida
Community Health Partnership of Illinois Numerous sites, Illinois
Lawndale Health Clinic Chicago, Illinois
Jesse Albert Dental Clinic Bath, Maine
Family Health Centers of Baltimore Dental Clinic Baltimore, Maryland
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center East Boston, Massachusetts
Children's Dental Services Minneapolis, Minnesota
Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers Salem, New Jersey
Boriken Health Center New York, New York
Smile Center for Children Salisbury, North Carolina
Columbus Health Department Family Dental Service Columbus, Ohio
La Clinica del Carino Family Hood River, Oregon
Dental Clinic at Roberto Clemente Middle School Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pediatric Dental Center Providence, Rhode Island
East Nashville Public Health Clinic Nashville, Tennessee
Houston City Dental Clinics Houston, Texas
45th Street Clinic Seattle, Washington
