National Oral Health Month Comes Again

Jakarta, August 15, 2011-The reluctance of people for their dental care and health check regularly to the dentist has become the causes of poor quality of dental health in society. Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) 2007 data shows concern that as many as 89% of children under age 12 have dental caries or cavities. In other words, only 11% of children in Indonesia who were free of caries.

Based from facts and affirm its ongoing commitment, Unilever through Pepsodent brand, once again together with the Indonesian Dentists Association (PDGI) and the Indonesia Dentist Faculty Association (AFDOKGI) held National Oral Health Month (BKGN) 2011 during September and October. Marked by the signing of an agreement between thedrg.Ratu Mirah Afifah,GCClinDent., MDSc,Professional Relationship Manager Oral Care of PT Unilever Indonesia, Tbk.,drg.Zaura Anggraeni, MDS, Chairman Board (PB) PDGI andProf. Dr. H. Eky S. Soeria Soemantri, drg.Sp.Ortho(K), as well as Chairman AFDOKGI Dean Faculty of Dentistry (FKG), Padjadjaran Universityas a form of commitment to ongoing cooperation.

"Visiting the dentist regularly every six months and brush your teeth at least twice a day morning and evening before sleep is a small step for prevention of tooth decay can be preventedearly.This message is delivered at BKGN 2011 which primarily directed for children and parents in the hope that in future they will be more aware of the importance of visiting the dentist regularly and to know exactly how and when brushing your teeth, "saiddrg.Ratu Mirah Afifah., GCClindent., MDSc.

Riskesdas 2007 data shows that the average population of Indonesia has the numbers of PTI (the amount of one's desire to patch up his teeth in an effort to maintain a their teeth) is very low for only 1.6%. Based on these data,Prof.Dr. H. Eky S. Soeria Soemantri drg., Sp. Ortho,said "People are still reluctant to check their health teeth regularly to the dentist because of fear, the pain is unbearable and expensive.Faculty of Dentistry has the facilities of good Dental and Oral Hospital and expertise in its field of dental health at an affordable cost to society."

Furthermore,Prof.Ekydisclose BKGN 2010 implementation results, "BKGN 2010 received a positive response, it can bee seen by the participant for 20,000 people received free treatment in BKGN 2010 involving about 2600 dental health workers in 13 FKG throughout Indonesia. In general, a significant increase members community who visited the Dental and Oral Hospital (RSGM) in some FKG conducting such BKGN at Padjadjaran University, Gadjah Mada University and USU. This,indicate an increase in public awareness for a health check for their teeth. "

drg. Rini Zaura MDSrevealed, "a routine examination to the dentist is very important because dental health plays a vital role for the health of other organs. Qualified dental health will make impact on the body health and improve the quality of life. "

National Oral Health Month activities is a form of Unilever's commitment, through itsbrandsPepsodent, in improving the quality of dental health of the Indonesia people.Unilever has been nearly 40 years doing educational activities in schools and forge partnerships with PDGI, FKG, Dental Health Polytechnic, Public Health Service, Education Department and NGOs.This partnership based on strong commitment and consistently realized in the form of free dental examinations and treatment, health practitioners training, dental and oral health seminars and various counseling conducted in various cities in Indonesia. From the results of this close partnership, until 2010, has managed to reach nearly 6 million Indonesian children scattered in thousands of schools in 65 cities across Indonesia.

"I hope the initiatives undertaken Unilever, PDGI and AFDOKGI on this second BKGN can make September 12 as the launching day of dental health in Indonesia," saidMirahclosing her press conference.