Colgate’s Oral Health Movement reveals India’s Oral Health Score as 2.6 out of 5, signalling the need for prioritization of Oral Care in the country
ShriJP Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare along with Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director & CEO, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited
Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited has been on a mission to revolutionize India’s Oral Care for over eight decades, with a deep commitment to improving the nation’s Oral Health. While almost 100% of households in India are using toothpaste, the adoption of optimal Oral Care behaviour continues to present an opportunity. While nearly every Indian household uses toothpaste, the opportunity to adopt optimal oral care behavior remains significant. It’s about cultivating simple, inexpensive daily habits with profound, long-term health benefits.
Speaking at the Summit, Ms. Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director & CEO, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited said, “For over 87 years, Colgate has proudly been India’s most trusted oral care brand, built on a legacy of innovation and science. Optimal Oral Health is simple and affordable – Allyou need is to invest ₹2 and 2 minutes, twice a day. We recognize that oral health, though crucial, is often overlooked in overall wellness. Improving oral hygiene can also positively impact systemic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and respiratory infections, thus easing the burden on one’s own health and the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.
With 90%* of Indians facing dental issues and only 9% visiting a dentist regularly, it was imperative to start a dialogue and create meaningful action around this critical issue. To bridge the awareness gap that exists between current behaviour and ideal, Colgate launched the Oral Health Movement in November 2024 – An initiative that leveraged cutting-edge technology to empower millions of Indians, enabling them to screen their oral health from their mobile phones and access free dental check-ups through a network of 50,000 dentists in partnership with the Indian Dental Association (IDA).
As part of the Colgate Oral Health Movement, over 4.5 million Indians screened their Oral Health across the length and breadth of the country with participation from 18,000+ pin codes covering more than 700 districts. Further, 1/6th of them visited a dentist post-screening (IDA data), thereby reflecting how the Movement successfully nudged Indians towards further action.
