Something to Smile About
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Partners with Sullivan-Schein and the Alliance of the American Dental Association for Senior Smiles
PITTSBURGH, August 15, 2006 — Local homebound seniors will receive something to smile about with today's Home Delivered Meals: "Senior Smiles" kits. Provided by Moon-based GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in conjunction with Sullivan-Schein Dental®, the kits are part of a nationwide oral health awareness campaign organized by the Alliance of the American Dental Association (AADA).
"This year, August 15 has been designated as National Senior Smiles Day," explained Connie Karlowicz, President of the AADA, the organization of American Dental Association (ADA) member spouses committed to supporting the ADA through public oral health education and legislative advocacy. "More than 100 AADA Chapters across the nation are helping to deliver Senior Smiles kits to 10,000 homebound seniors as part of this effort."
According to the Center for Disease Control's "State of Aging and Health in America 2004," elderly Pennsylvanians ranked 37th in the United States in the Oral Health category of its State-By-State Report Card on Healthy Aging with more than 25% of all senior citizens reporting complete tooth loss. This low ranking earns the state a failing grade on the nationwide Report Card1.
"The Senior Smiles program is a great opportunity to reach out to homebound seniors both in our community and across the nation. At GSK Consumer Healthcare, we strive to help people do more, feel better and live longer. We are excited to partner with Sullivan- Schein Dental in order to provide seniors with well-stocked kits to help do just that," said Syd Rollock, Vice President of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Oral Care. "Our hope is that these Senior Smiles kits will educate this important and growing audience on the significance of good oral health and will raise awareness within the community and among dental professionals of the often unmet oral health needs of seniors."
The kits, full of oral care products, will be distributed by volunteers at LifeSpan Home Delivered Meals in Homestead in addition to several other sites across Allegheny County. The contents of the kits include:
- Aquafresh® Extra Fresh Whitening Toothpaste
- Aquafresh® Toothbrush
- Sensodyne® Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
- Super Poligrip® Denture Adhesive Smooth Cream
- Polident® 3-Minute Denture Cleanser
- Super Poligrip® Comfort Seal™ Strips for Dentures
- Wernet® Denture Brush
- Acclean® Waxed Floss
- Dental Educational booklet
LifeSpan is one of the contracted providers that provide home delivered meals for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging. Each month, more than 66,500 meals are delivered to homebound seniors in the county and 56,000 meals are provided to 61 Senior Community Centers. Meals are carefully planned to meet daily nutritional requirements and maintain healthy diets. Today, the 85 LifeSpan volunteers who deliver meals will be joined by volunteers from GSK Consumer Healthcare to help distribute kits for good oral hygiene as well.
Click below to view a two minute video of the Senior Smiles launch.
About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette®, NicoDerm® and Commit®, as well as many medicine cabinet staples such as Aquafresh®, Sensodyne®, Polident®, Super Poligrip® and Tums®.
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