Wrigley Launches India Oral Healthcare Programme

Sept. 9, 2009 - PRLog -- New Delhi: Wrigley today announced the launch of the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme (WOHP) in India, an initiative designed to support dental professionals by providing them information and practical resources to promote a healthy oral care routine among their patients in the Indian context. The programme has been brought to India after spanning 46 countries and being tested and innovated at every stage.
The WOHP will support independent clinical research into preventive dentistry keeping in mind Indian lifestyle and food patterns. It will support oral care professionals with continuing education programs and conferences, and foster oral health education through digital media, brochures and other materials.
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Wrigley India, said, “The Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme is a holistic programme to promote good daily oral care routines and improve overall oral health consciousness in India.  The Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme provides dental professionals and consumers with the latest information and advice on oral healthcare.”
Lt. Gen. Dr. Paramjit Singh, President, Indian Dental Association said: “Oral Health is critical for overall health. Bad oral health can result in heart disease and strokes that can be potentially fatal. Oral health in India is a growing concern for IDA. We are delighted that Wrigley is launching WOHP in India, which will bring dental professionals and students together, develop research initiatives and exchange programmes and encourage clinical research on plaque reduction and saliva stimulus. All this will help generate greater awareness of oral health, something we sorely need among our people.”

Dr. Ashok Dhoble, Hon Secretary General, Indian Dental Association (IDA), said, “India, produces approximately 19,000 dental graduates every year and is becoming a favoured tourist destination for dental treatment of international standards. However, we need to create awareness about oral health. WOHP through clinical research on various issues like plaque reduction, saliva stimulation will further empower the dental fraternity with new empirical data and promote good oral routine in India.”
Grounded in more than two decades of clinical research and consumer outreach, the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) has activations across the globe with one uniting focus: to help oral care professionals and patients worldwide better understand the role of sugar-free gum in a regular oral care routine. With clinical research proving that chewing sugar-free gum, like Orbit®, can reduce the incidence of tooth decay by up to 40%, dentists around the world are agreeing that "Check-up, Brush, Floss, Chew" is a strong combination for healthy teeth and healthy gums.
Also widening the sphere of consumer engagement, WOHP will soon be launching a dedicated website in India – www.wohp.co.in, to provide information that can be easily understood by patients, offering advice in all areas of oral health.

About Wrigley  
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops, and chocolate. The Company has operations in more than 40 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands – Wrigley’s Spearmint®, Juicy Fruit®, and Altoids® – have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other well-loved brands include Doublemint®, Life Savers®, Skittles®, Big Red®, Boomer®, Pim Pom®, Winterfresh®, Extra®, Starburst®, Freedent®, Hubba Bubba®, Orbit®, Excel®, Creme Savers®, Lucas®, Eclipse®, Airwaves®, Solano®, Sugus®, Lockets®, P.K.®, Cool Air® and 5™.   Wrigley is headquartered in Chicago, IL and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, based in McLean, VA.  Mars is a $27-billion, family-owned company that produces some of the world’s leading confectionery, food and petcare products and has growing beverage and health & nutrition businesses. www.wrigley.com / www.gumisgood.com / www.wohp.co.in

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