Actress and Screenwriter Nia Vardalos Joins GUM® Brand in Challenging Consumers to Live Healthy Lives

CHICAGO, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Award nominated actress/screenwriter Nia Vardalos, of many romantic comedies from My Big Fat Greek Wedding to My Life In Ruins, is on a mission to make people smile!

Vardalos is joining forces with GUM Brand, a leader in consumer oral hygiene products, to launch The PerioBalance Challenge. The goal is to educate consumers about the importance of oral health and how a balanced oral environment is essential for healthy teeth and gums, and overall wellness.

A co-writer on the upcoming comedy Larry Crowne, starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, Nia is headed for the red carpet when the film releases July 1, 2011 – and to prepare, she took The PerioBalance Challenge.

"A healthy smile is an asset when working in TV and film. But oral health is equally important to my family and me," said Vardalos. "I hope to help others learn how easy it is to have good oral hygiene, by brushing and flossing, as well as simply using GUM® PerioBalance®."

GUM® PerioBalance®, a new daily, dental probiotic in a mint-flavored lozenge, is the first probiotic specifically created for oral health.  GUM PerioBalance is clinically proven to help reduce plaque, promote healthy teeth and gums in just 28 days and fight bad breath. The PerioBalance Challenge will ask consumers to put the product to the test, as Nia has done, to see how it can improve gum health and overall oral health in less than a month.

Consumers can get involved in The PerioBalance Challenge by visiting www.facebook.com/GUMBrand. While there, they will learn important tips to help improve overall oral health and hygiene and follow the progress of a small group of bloggers who are taking Nia's lead in adopting great oral care habits by participating in The PerioBalance Challenge. Consumers can also find a $5 printable coupon for PerioBalance, available at www.PerioBalance.com.

"Taking good care of your teeth at every stage of life is a good way to avoid painful toothaches, expensive trips to the dentist and tooth loss in old age. But there is another powerful reason to practice good oral health: research indicates that there may be a link between good oral health and overall health," said Nikki Lockett, senior marketing manager for Sunstar Americas, Inc. makers of GUM Brand oral hygiene products. "When taken daily, GUM PerioBalance will help promote healthy teeth and gums, reduce plaque, fight bad breath and most importantly, will provide a natural defense against oral health problems."

GUM® PerioBalance® is available in a 28-day pack at major retailers including CVS, Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs. The product can also be purchased at the drugstore.com web store or at the GUM PerioBalance e-store.  For more information on GUM PerioBalance, visit www.periobalance.com.  For more information on The PerioBalance Challenge, visit www.facebook.com/GUMBrand.

About Sunstar Americas, Inc.

Chicago-based Sunstar Americas, which serves the Americas, is part of the Sunstar Group of companies, a global organization founded in Japan in 1941 which now has worldwide sales of over $1 billion. The company has offices in 15 countries and four major geographic divisions. Sunstar's mission is to always strive to help people everywhere achieve better health and enhance their quality of life via its four business areas: mouth and body, health and beauty, healthy home and safety and technology. The company is proud of its global partnership with dental professionals to develop a better understanding of the potential links between oral health, general health and quality of life. Sunstar's well-known Butler® brand of professional dental products and GUM® brand of consumer oral hygiene products have been two of the dental profession's most trusted and recommended brands for more than 60 years. Butler and GUM products are designed in consultation with dental professionals and manufactured to the highest quality standards, assuring product excellence and patient satisfaction. For additional information, please visit www.GUMbrand.com.

SOURCE Sunstar Americas, Inc.