Supported by the Indonesian Dental Association (PDGI), this program focuses on education, free dental care services, and donations for 1,500 orphaned children under Masjid Istiqlal's care. This is especially meaningful as it aligns with the spirit of World Oral Health Day 2025 and features many inspirational figures.
In his speech on maintaining oral health during Ramadan, in collaboration with Pepsodent and Unilever Indonesia, Prof. Dr. KH. Nasaruddin Umar, MA, the Grand Imam of Masjid Istiqlal, shared this: “There is a hadith from the Prophet that roughly says: ‘Do not enter my mosque if you have just eaten onions.’ This means clean your mouth first before entering the mosque since it must maintain its cleanliness due to being crowded with people. However, is it allowed to brush our teeth during fasting? If our mouth smells very bad before going to the mosque, it is okay to brush our teeth, but make sure nothing goes down the throat.”
“Brushing your teeth with toothpaste, like Pepsodent, from morning until evening, Insha Allah, will prevent bad breath. Thanks to Unilever Indonesia, which has been working closely with Masjid Istiqlal for a long time as well as with Islamic boarding schools, schools, and religious activities. Therefore, Unilever Indonesia is truly a friend to the Indonesian Muslim community.”
Willy Saelan, Director of Human Resources at Unilever Indonesia, responded thusly: “With the mission of helping people prevent various dental and oral health issues, Pepsodent always strives to spread ‘Senyum Indonesia, Senyum Pepsodent’ through high-quality products, educational activities and dental and oral health services, such as the ‘Ramadan Berbagi BerkaHHH, Mulut & Hati Adem’ program. This program continues the close collaboration between Pepsodent and Masjid Istiqlal, which has been established since 2022. As a result, it has benefited thousands of people due to our joint commitment to contribute goodness while supporting the public’s health, particularly their dental and oral health.”
“During this blessed month, Pepsodent has involved community support, where we raised donations from 2.5% of the sales profit of Pepsodent Herbal, Pepsodent Siwak, and Pepsodent Siwak Habbatussauda to be channeled through the collaboration with Masjid Istiqlal to improve the dental and oral health of 1,500 orphaned children under their care. In this program, we provide education on brushing teeth twice a day, especially during fasting, to prevent bad breath. We also provide free dental care services and donations,” continued Willy.
This program is in line with the theme of World Oral Health Day 2025, which is “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Mind” – a statement that focuses on dental and oral health as being an integral part of overall health, including mental health. Similarly, the donations carried out by the public through this program allow them to maintain fresh mouths thanks to well-kept dental health and a peaceful heart for sharing with others.
Maintaining dental and oral health during Ramadan is a crucial matter that needs attention. Dr. Usman Sumantri, MSc, Chairman of the Indonesian Dental Association (PDGI), explained: “During fasting, our teeth and mouth are more prone to various problems, especially bad breath. One factor is the reduced saliva production due to much lower fluid intake than usual, which causes our mouths to become dry and thus becomes a breeding ground for bacteria that cause bad breath.”
“In addition, food remnants left over from suhoor can become a bacterial nest, worsening the issue. Food that sticks to the teeth for eight hours will ferment due to the bacteria, creating highly acidic conditions that damage tooth surfaces. If the teeth and mouth are not cleaned, cavities and bad breath will occur, leading to discomfort, especially during fasting.”
Therefore, Dr. Usman emphasized the importance of brushing teeth twice a day with the right toothpaste – after suhoor and before sleeping, as well as regularly visiting a dentist at least every six months.
All services in the “Ramadan Berbagi BerkaHHH, Mulut & Hati Adem” program were delivered in a fun way for the children and conducted directly by competent professionals, including several PDGI dental doctors and dental students. There were also appearances by various celebrities and influencers to entertain and motivate the children during these educational activities.
One of the celebrities, Raditya Dika, enthusiastically stated: “This education is important because my family and I have experienced many benefits from brushing our teeth during fasting, especially by using Pepsodent Herbal, which contains natural ingredients with antibacterial benefits, keeping the mouth fresh during fasting. I hope this product can help the orphaned children take better care of their teeth and mouths, giving them fresh breath for up to 18 hours so they can continue to shine with healthy smiles throughout the day.”
“Insha Allah, the educational activities, dental care services, and donations we have provided to the orphaned children will bring blessings and happiness as well as increase awareness of the importance of maintaining dental and oral health, especially during Ramadan, so they can worship and socialize with healthy mouths and peaceful hearts,” concluded Willy.