Listerine partners with Operation Smile Philippines, Watsons to #GiftASmile to children with cleft issues

 

Having cleft conditions may impact both the physical and mental well-being of children with cleft and even their families. Especially among lower-income households, operations to treat cleft conditions are perceived to be expensive thus preventing them from seeking treatment. Recent studies have indicated that globally, 1 in 700 babies are born with a cleft lip and palate; and many do not know that cleft conditions are more than just treatable. That is why coming from National Cleft Awareness & Prevention Month, Listerine together with Operation Smile Philippines and Watsons launched the #GiftASmile campaign last September 4 to inspire Filipinos to make a difference and gift a smile to a child with cleft lip and palate.

(L-R: Anne Clutz with her kids, Mother of children with cleft care; Ken Tort, RSLP Head, Speech Language Pathology Unit of Operation Smile Philippines; Alde Po, Kenvue Philippines’ Franchise Head for Oral and Self-Care; Emiliano Romano, Executive Director of Operation Smile Philippines; Miggy Gamboa, Listerine Philippines Marketing Manager; Sharon Decapia, SAVP for Marketing, PR, and Sustainability of Watsons; Mikee Reyes, Listerine Ambassador)

 

Hosted by none other than Mikee Reyes, Listerine brand ambassador, the event aims to raise awareness about cleft lip and palate, and more importantly, to educate cleft patients and their families on the importance of good oral hygiene. Together with Operation Smile Philippines and Watsons, the goal of the campaign is to increase support needed for the program through volunteers, referrals, and donations.

 

As a longtime partner of Operation Smile Philippines, Listerine stresses the importance of oral health for children with cleft lip and palate, who are more susceptible to tooth decay due to increased exposure to germs and bacteria, making them more prone to oral diseases and infections. Miggy Gamboa, marketing manager for Listerine Philippines, emphasized “Listerine believes that healthy smiles are meant for all. As a mouthwash brand, Listerine advocates proper oral hygiene, especially for kids with cleft, so we can protect them from oral problems as early as possible to prevent further issues. Join us in educating the families of kids with cleft and teach them how to protect their mouths with proper oral health.” 

 

“In the Philippines, there is an estimated 200,000 backlog of children with cleft lip and palate and many live in remote or rural communities. That's why we urge the public to refer any patient to Operation Smile Philippines because I believe that each of us can make a difference by helping to transform a life of a child, one smile at the time!’ said Operation Smile Philippines’ executive director Emiliano Romano.

 

Sharon Decapia, SAVP for Marketing, PR, and Sustainability of Watsons Philippines, also a longstanding partner of Listerine, highlighted, “As part of our mission to Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great, we continue to team up with Operation Smile Philippines to bring perfect smiles to children afflicted with cleft lip and palate through the #GiftASmile campaign. We are proud to have Listerine as a loyal partner since 2013 in transforming the lives of these children.”

 

To shed light on her story as a mother of a child with cleft, Anne Clutz shared heartfelt insights from her journey, “Providing free comprehensive cleft surgeries to kids with cleft, is so valuable, especially for less fortunate families. I just want to thank Operation Smile Philippines and Listerine for making life-changing surgeries accessible and promoting the importance of good oral hygiene.” 

 

Giving more kids the chance to live with healthier smiles is the main goal of #GiftASmile. Listerine’s commitment to promoting oral health, combined with Operation Smile Philippines’ free comprehensive cleft care—including dental services, nutrition screening, and speech therapy—and Watsons’ advocacy in bringing healthy smiles, is what these children need for their confidence to thrive. To support Operation Smile Philippines’ efforts in providing speech therapy, Listerine will donate ₱10 to Operations Smile Philippines for every bottle sold* for speech therapy *for the first 50,000 bottles sold of any Listerine variant and size from Sept 22, 2024, until Dec 31, 2024. Per DOH-FDA CCHUHSRR Permit No. 0669 s. 2024.

 

To learn more about the #GiftASmile campaign, simply access the link https://linktr.ee/OpSmilePhil or call (+632) 8351-1925. You may follow Listerine on Facebook @ListerinePhilippines for more information and check out the merchandising materials posted in select Watsons Drugstores nationwide.

Listerine Harnesses the Powerful Science Behind #CompleteMouthProtection for Oral Health

Here’s a fact– brushing alone is not enough. This is backed by years of scientific research and studies conducted by oral health experts in their mission to protect millions of mouths around the world. Studies show that brushing alone only cleans up to 25% of the mouth. In 2018, results from the National Survey on Oral Health showed 72% of Filipinos have dental caries while 43% have gum diseases. Periodontal (gum) disease affects the tissues that surround and support the tooth, and is often characterized by bleeding or swollen gums, pain, and sometimes bad breath. 

When left untreated, gum disease could lead to tooth loss. In the Philippines, 7.5% of adults aged 20 and above have total tooth loss. The evidence overwhelmingly supports the idea that a complete oral hygiene routine is essential for maintaining a healthy mouth. While brushing is a fundamental and necessary component, it primarily targets the surfaces of teeth, leaving gaps in the overall protection against various oral health issues.

On the other hand, studies have also consistently shown that incorporating a mouthwash like Listerine Total Care into one's daily routine, along with brushing and flossing, significantly enhances the effectiveness of oral care– up to 99.9% germ kill when used twice daily. This was the main takeaway from the recent event of Listerine Philippines, held last February 28, 2024.

The panel behind the Powerful Science Behind #CompleteMouthProtection Event held by Listerine Philippines

(L-R: MacoyDubs, Listerine brand ambassador; Miggy Gamboa, marketing manager, Kenvue Philippines; Dr. Ashita Bhatia, associate director and head of Scientific Engagement, Kenvue APAC; Penn Policarpio, managing director, Kenvue Philippines; Dr. Tess Villarico, oral care practitioner; Mikee Reyes, Listerine brand ambassador)

 

The event gathered dental and oral care experts, Dr. Tess Villarico and Dr. Ashita Bhatia, who illustrated the importance of completing one’s oral care routine and demonstrated the efficacy of Listerine in being able to provide #CompleteMouthProtection for its users.

Dr. Tess Villarico, an esteemed dental practitioner, stressed the importance of being able to do more than just brushing [teeth], “It is necessary that one habitually complements their brushing with flossing and using a mouthwash to maintain good oral health and hygiene. Brushing cleans accessible surfaces of the teeth that the toothbrush is able to reach, and flossing gets in between the teeth. The role of a good mouthwash is as an adjunct providing anti-microbial action against certain bacteria while reinforcing fluoride exposure, that’s why it’s important to be able to do all three regularly to ensure a clean whole mouth.”

 

Kenvue Asia-Pacific’s associate director and head of Scientific Engagement, Dr. Ashita Bhatia, conducted brief demonstrations that show the germ-kill power of Listerine Total Care, including the use of different instruments such as Q-Scanner and Milkin Microscope.

 

 

“Listerine proves to be a highly effective antibacterial mouth rinse. Through the experiments we’ve shown, it is clear that Listerine Total Care is able to get rid of germs that cause plaque build-up, cavities, and gum problems,” Dr. Ashita ultimately noted.

 

Listerine rolls out its #CompleteMouthProtection campaign, stressing the importance of completing the oral hygiene routine to protect oneself from the common causes of oral health issues. Miggy Gamboa, marketing manager for Oral Care, reminded the audience, “This is why we want to remind everyone, not just the people in this room, but the general public to prioritize their oral health, complete the oral hygiene routine of brushing, flossing, and using a mouthwash like Listerine to get #CompleteMouthProtection.”

 

Borne out of superior science, Listerine Total Care provides up to 24-hour germ defense against plaque, cavities, and gum problems when used twice a day because brushing alone is not enough.

 

Listerine Total Care is available in leading drugstores, supermarkets, and on the official Listerine Lazada and Shopee shops online. To know more about Listerine, visit its official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ListerinePhilippines

 

Listerine celebrates National Oral Health Month by advocating the importance of oral care and hygiene

Listerine brings this to life by educating families of kids with cleft palate, and also its Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health employees on the transformative impact of good oral health in one’s life by bringing awareness to the growing issue of mouth aging. It continues its mission to provide free comprehensive post-surgery cleft care for children who have undergone corrective surgeries, and educate families on the importance of good oral hygiene. 

 

A Meaningful Collaboration with Operation Smile, Listerine, and Watsons

Cleft lip and palate are one of the more common disorders seen in the Philippines. In fact, in 1 out of 1,000 Filipino live births, a cleft lip or palate patient is born. From these cases, about 90% of them suffer from tooth decay since their oral cavities are exposed. If left untreated, it may lead to a larger than average number of cavities, have missing, malformed, or displaced teeth requiring dental treatments.

 

“In the Philippines, there is an estimated backlog of 200,000 untreated children with cleft lip and palate and many live in unreachable provinces that's why we urge the public to refer any patient to Operation Smile Philippines because I believe that each of us can make a difference in our lives by helping to change a life of a child, one smile at a  time,” says Operation Smile executive director, Emiliano Romano.

 

This year, Operation Smile together with Listerine, and Watsons join forces to support these kids to help them regain their confidence and smile again by launching the #SmileTogether project. The project aims to raise awareness for comprehensive cleft care, nutrition, and oral hygiene in the City of Manila. 

 

“This Oral Health Month, Listerine, who has been a long-time partner of Operation Smile, and with the help of Watsons continues to support kids with cleft lips and palettes by providing free access to comprehensive cleft care to less fortunate children. As a mouthwash brand, Listerine advocates proper oral hygiene, especially for kids with cleft, so we can protect them from oral health problems as early as possible,” says senior brand manager for Listerine® Philippines, Miguel Gamboa.

 

Moreover, Listerine has once again collaborated with one of the top drugstores in the country, Watsons, to help in promoting #SmileTogether through merchandising initiatives in-store. “As part of our mission to Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great, we continue to team up with Operation Smile Philippines to bring perfect smiles to children afflicted with cleft lip and palate through the Watsons Give-a-Smile program. We are proud to have Listerine as a loyal partner since 2013 in transforming the lives of these children,” shared by public relations and sustainability director of Watsons Philippines, Viki Encarnacion. 

 

Systemic and Mouth Aging at the 19th National Dental Health Month Celebration 

Listerine also launched its mouth aging lecture during the 19th National Dental Health Month in collaboration with the Philippine Dental Association, in order to bring more awareness to thousands of dentists online about the latest in oral hygiene studies. This was where the ‘Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial Lecture’ was presented with speakers Dr. Stephen B. Almonte, MScD Periodontology who talked about mouth aging, and Dr. Eva Irene Y. Maglonzo, MD, FPAFP, MHPEd, FPCGM who spoke about ‘The Aging Process and Wellness’; bringing forth our advocacy on oral health and how we can advance this through proper education on mouth aging.

 

Listerine would like to break the cycle of mouthwash apathy by showcasing what healthy mouths can do even at an older age. Listerine also brings to life its advocacy on fighting mouth aging through educational materials that were distributed to Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health Philippines employees this oral health month.

For more information about #SmileTogether campaign, you may visit https://linktr.ee/OpSmilePhil. To know more about Listerine® visit www.listerine.com.ph and follow Listerine on their Facebook @ListerinePhilippines