NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Colgate today revealed the results from a national oral health care survey¹ of more than 3,000 multicultural Americans, specifically Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans. The survey sourced questions from leading dental associations including the American Dental Association, Hispanic Dental Association, and the National Dental Association, which promotes oral health equity among people of color. Results revealed that diverse communities have a stronger sense of responsibility when addressing oral health issues, reporting more frequent brushing, flossing and mouthwash use than the overall U.S population. In spite of reportedly excellent at-home oral health care, however, multicultural Americans still experience higher rates of overall oral health issues such as cavities, plaque build-up or bleeding gums.

While these groups lead in conscientiousness around oral health and self-reported having “good” and “excellent” oral health, disparities remain in these multicultural communities, which may be due to access to care issues such as language barriers or lack of dental insurance and a lack of information around best practices and habits.

Below are some of the key findings from the Colgate multicultural oral care survey:

• On average, 80% of the multicultural Americans report brushing their teeth 2-3 times per day, compared to 75% of the general U.S. population
• Nearly two-thirds of all multicultural Americans don’t visit an oral health professional regularly, as recommended, even if they are aware of the recommendation
• Most multicultural groups surveyed have experienced at least one oral health problem in the past six months including cavities, yellow or stained teeth, plaque buildup or bleeding gums

According to the survey, most multicultural Americans report that they are taking their oral health more seriously today to avoid problems, all with a common goal to invest more time into the health of their teeth and gums.

“We know that a little information can go quite a long way, particularly in this fast-paced world we all live in,” said Dr. Marsha Butler, Vice President of Global Oral Health and Professional Relations. “Colgate is committed to providing accurate, relevant information to all Americans so that current and future generations can enjoy excellent oral health.”

In an ongoing effort to close the information gap and promote better oral health among all Americans, Colgate not only partners with leading dental organizations, but also shares this message through partnerships with community events, relevant spokespersons and media partners.

One key effort is the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures® program, which brings education and smiles to under-served children in the U.S. and worldwide with nine state-of-the art, mobile dental vans equipped to screen children for common oral health conditions. The dental vans are based in hub-cities and travel to under-served rural and urban communities in the U.S. to help raise awareness about the importance of children’s dental health. With this program, Colgate has reached more than 100 million children in the United States.

Additional free resources and information are available at www.Colgate.com in English, http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/USES/HomePage.cvsp in Spanish and the ADA’s website MouthHealthy.org in English and Spanish

About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet and Hill’s Ideal Balance. For more information about Colgate’s global business, visit the Company’s web site at http://www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® oral health education program, please visit http://www.colgatebsbf.com.

¹ Conducted by Toluna, the Colgate multicultural oral care survey was fielded from March 3-27, 2016, among 3,168 U.S. adults 18 and older in English and Spanish.

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