April is Hispanic Dental Health Month

Colgate declares April Hispanic Dental Health Month
Dental Plans, 4/8/2009

Colgate declares April Hispanic Dental Health MonthIn an effort to increase more Hispanics to visit their dentist, a new program has been launched to raise the awareness of the benefits that come with routine dental care.

Colgate and the Hispanic Dental Association recently declared April to be Oral Health Month: A World of Healthy Smiles and it is the first time the initiative has been launched in the U.S.

"Due to language barriers and lack of familiarity accessing oral healthcare services, among other factors, our Latino population shows greater deficiencies in overall oral healthcare," said Carla Kelly, general manager of multicultural marketing for Colgate-Palmolive.

The Latino population has the lowest rate of dental checkups when compared to other ethnicities and ranks the highest for untreated dental caries among children, according to a 2007 study.

To remedy part of the problem, Colgate will provide free dental screenings for disadvantaged children who may not have access to dental insurance in various cities that include Miami and Los Angeles through the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures initiative.

Without dental care, people may develop serious conditions such as tooth decay, which in turn can lead to heart disease.

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