Crest® and Oral-B® Partner with Tiffani Thiessen to Declare September National Gingivitis Awareness Month

NEW YORK, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 15th, Crest and Oral-B announced the kick off of National Gingivitis Awareness Month, with a press conference in Greeley Square Park, Manhattan, featuring "White Collar" star, Tiffani Thiessen. Thiessen is helping Crest and Oral-B to bring attention to the early gum disease, gingivitis, which affects more than fifty percent of American adults(1). Along with the declaration, Crest and Oral-B are helping consumers prevent and reverse gingivitis by introducing a new member to the Crest® Pro-Health® family, Crest® Pro-Health® Clinical Gum Protection. The new, advanced formula of Clinical Gum Protection provides Crest's highest level of protection against the plaque bacteria that can cause gingivitis and with regular use, is clinically proven to help reverse gingivitis in just four weeks.  

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please go to:  http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/crestprohealth/44592/

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100916/MM63762)

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100916/MM63762)

To educate the public on the causes and implications of gingivitis, Crest will engage in an array of activities to support National Gingivitis Awareness Month, including the partnership with Thiessen and the release of an educational video featuring Dr. Travis Stork of CBS's "The Doctors." Consumers can also visit CrestProHealth.com to test their "Gingivitis IQ" and learn more about gingivitis and how it may affect them. Crest and Oral-B also encourage consumers to ask their dental hygienist about gingivitis at their next dental visit.

"My oral health is important to me and I didn't realize that minor concerns, such as red or swollen gums, could be symptoms that can lead to more serious gum health issues," said Thiessen. "Now that I am more aware of the symptoms of gingivitis and its implications, I pay more attention to my oral health and hope to help others learn about how they can help prevent and even help reverse gingivitis by using Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection."

Many adults believe that they are already doing everything they can to protect their mouths and do not realize that red gums or minor bleeding during brushing or flossing can be a sign of gingivitis.  Gingivitis is a form of early gum disease caused by plaque bacteria at the gumline that can cause gums to swell.  When left untreated, it can lead to a more serious form of gum disease, known as periodontitis, an infection in the ligaments and bones that support the teeth(2). Periodontitis, if left untreated, can be a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Also, some research suggests there may be a link between periodontitis and other health problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and pre-term birth.

Crest also conducted meetings with Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill in August to educate them about gingivitis and generate further action and support of National Gingivitis Awareness Month. Congressman John Linder (R-GA), a dentist and co-chair of the Congressional Oral Health Caucus noted, "Gingivitis affects millions of Americans and should not be taken lightly. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to other health concerns such as tooth loss. Advanced gum disease has even been linked in some research to increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and increased risk of premature birth in pregnant women. I wholeheartedly support increased awareness of gum disease and its many affects through efforts such as National Gingivitis Awareness Month."

"We developed Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection with newly balanced stabilized stannous fluoride chemistry that provides an increase in antibacterial power, resulting in our highest level of protection against plaque bacteria that cause gingivitis and helps reverse it after four weeks of regular use," said Dr. Robert Gerlach, DDS, MPH, Research Fellow, P&G Worldwide Clinical Investigations.

Just like other Crest Pro-Health toothpastes, Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection protects against all these areas dentist check most: cavities, plaque, tartar, sensitivity, stains, and fresh breath.

The Clinical Gum Protection product line includes:

• Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection Toothpaste: Is clinically proven to help reverse gingivitis and helps eliminate plaque at the gumline, while also inhibiting gingivitis-causing bacteria in the mouth.

• Oral-B® Glide® Pro-Health® Clinical Protection™ Floss: Infused with Crest's highest level of special flavor ingredients to deliver a strong, fresh mint sensation during and after use. The flossing action helps reverse gingivitis in two weeks as part of a complete dental program.

• Oral-B® CrossAction® Pro-Health® Toothbrush: Unique Oral-B® CrissCross® bristles are angled in opposing directions to lift out and sweep away plaque, removing up to 50% more plaque along the gumline vs. an ordinary manual brush and reducing gingivitis in only four weeks of use.

For more information, visit: www.crestprohealth.com.

About Crest

A trusted leader in oral health, Crest was the first oral care brand to secure the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a clinically proven fluoride toothpaste.  Since first introducing fluoride toothpaste 54 years ago, it is estimated that Crest has helped prevent more than half a billion cavities in the United States. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Crest is owned and distributed by Procter & Gamble.

ABOUT PROCTER & GAMBLE

Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world.  The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

(1) Oral Health U.S., 2002. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health and the Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed on July 19, 2010 at: http://drc.hhs.gov/report/3_1.htm

(2) American Dental Association. Periodontal Gum Diseases. Retrieved March 24, 2010, from www.ada.org/public/topics/periodontal_diseases.asp#faq

SOURCE P&G