The Makers of LISTERINE® Antiseptic and REACH® Products Support America's ToothFairy® to Combat Pediatric Dental Disease -- America's #1 Chronic Childhood Illness

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J., Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to improve the oral health of America's children, the makers of LISTERINE^® Antiseptic and REACH^® Products announce their continued support of the National Children's Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF): America's ToothFairy^®. With the Ad Council, and a coalition of more than 35 leading dental associations including America's ToothFairy^®, launching the first national campaign aimed at educating on children's oral health (www.2min2x.org) this week, the need for ensuring children have access to preventative oral care tools has never been more important.

"We are pleased that the new Ad Council campaign will bring more attention to and shine a national spotlight on the state of oral health in this country – and the urgent need to combat tooth decay, the preventable yet #1 chronic childhood illness," said Cheryl Burke, director of Oral Care Professional, Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. "We remain committed to helping children achieve their healthiest smiles by providing them the essential resources that they need to build lifelong healthy oral care habits, such as toothbrushes, therapeutic mouthwashes and dental check-ups through our work with dental healthcare professionals, dental schools and oral health associations and organizations, such as America's ToothFairy^®."

According to statistics, more than 51 million school hours and 164 million work hours are lost each year due to dental disease, leading to increased educational disparities and decreased productivity.¹ In addition, of the four million children born each year, more than half will have cavities by the time they reach second grade.²

"It's hard to imagine not being able to eat, sleep, or pay attention in school because of unbearable pain caused by severe tooth decay and gum disease," said President and CEO of the National Children's Oral Health Foundation Fern K. Ingber. "We are proud to have a sponsor like the makers of LISTERINE^® and REACH^® Products who have helped us reach more than 500,000 children annually over the past three years, and helped us to change more lives of children who need oral care the most."

Now in its third year, the company's sponsorship of America's ToothFairy^® will continue to ensure that children can access the comprehensive care they need for healthy, happy, and productive futures. In 2010, the makers of LISTERINE^® and REACH^® Products, Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.,  joined forces with the National Children's Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF): America's ToothFairy^® in their commitment to eliminating pediatric oral disease and promoting overall health and well-being for millions of underserved children nationwide.

In 2011 alone, more than 50,000 children received critical oral health services as a result of the company's contributions, including:

• 27,000 screenings
• 12,000 oral prophylaxes
• 15,000 fluoride treatments
• 7,000 sealants
• 16,500 restorative services.

These vital educational, preventative and treatment services were delivered through childcare centers, community health fairs, early head start, elementary schools, Boys and Girls Clubs and other NCOHF Affiliate outreach sites.

For more information on the contributions from the makers of LISTERINE^® and REACH^® Products, or how to get involved in helping the cause, visit www.AmericasToothfairy.org.

About National Children's Oral Health Foundation: America's ToothFairy^®
The makers of LISTERINE^® and REACH^® Products are a proud sponsor of National Children's Oral Health Foundation: America's ToothFairy^® (NCOHF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating children's preventable pain and suffering from severe tooth decay, America's #1 chronic childhood disease, by providing programs and comprehensive resources to deliver community-based critical preventive, educational and treatment services. With a growing Affiliate network of exemplary non-profit community programs, America's ToothFairy Kids Club, as well as professional and student service programs, America's ToothFairy is creating a powerful, united effort to protect the smiles of our most vulnerable children and ensure they receive the oral health services they deserve. Through the generosity of supporters like the makers of LISTERINE^® and REACH^® Products, America's ToothFairy has delivered help to millions of children and the promise of happier, healthier futures! For more information, visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org.

About LISTERINE^® Antiseptic
LISTERINE^® Antiseptic is the number one dentist-recommended brand of over-the-counter antimicrobial mouthrinse and the only nationally branded over-the-counter antimicrobial mouthrinse that has earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance. First offered for sale in 1879, first marketed for oral hygiene in 1895, and made today by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., LISTERINE^® Antiseptic contains a fixed combination of four essential oils and is clinically proven to kill germs that cause plaque, gingivitis and bad breath. To learn more about LISTERINE^® Antiseptic, visit www.listerine.com.

About REACH^® Brand
The makers of REACH^® Brand revolutionized the toothbrush with design inspired by precision dental instruments that deliver superior cleaning. In fact, clinical studies show that REACH^® toothbrushes remove as much as 90% of plaque from hard to reach places. One hundred years of innovation has led to a complete line of REACH^® floss that is designed to deliver a superior clean, no matter what your oral care needs.

About Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.
Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. is a leader in the consumer oral health and whitening market with LISTERINE^® Antiseptic Mouthwash, LISTERINE^® ULTRACLEAN™, LISTERINE^® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash, LISTERINE^® WHITENING^® Pre-Brush Rinse, LISTERINE^® WHITENING^® VIBRANT WHITE^® Pre-Brush Rinse, LISTERINE^® WHITENING^® Plus Restoring Fluoride Rinse, LISTERINE^® WHITENING^® Original Gel, LISTERINE^® SMART RINSE^®, LISTERINE^® AGENT COOL BLUE^®, REACH^® toothbrushes, REACH^® floss, and REMBRANDT^® tooth whitening products.

1) National Children's Oral Health Foundation. "Why it Matters". http://www.ncohf.org/why.

2) American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. "Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children". http://www.aapd.org/foundation/.

For More Information, Contact:
Kristina Chang
Johnson & Johnson
Healthcare Products
Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.
Phone: 973-385-4370
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.