ADHA & Wrigley emphasize 'brush, floss, rinse' as part of National Dental Hygiene Month 2013

The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company proudly announce their third annual collaboration for October's National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM). National Dental Hygiene Month, with the theme "Brush, Floss, Rinse, Chew," showcases the commitment of ADHA and Wrigley, the makers of Orbit® sugar-free gum, to improving the nation's oral health.

"A clean mouth is the first line of defense for a healthy body," said ADHA President Denise Bowers, RDH, PhD. "Oral diseases are prevalent but extremely preventable. Wrigley shares this philosophy with us. As we celebrate our partnership, Wrigley and ADHA would like to remind hygienists and patients that chewing sugarfree gum is good for you and should be part your daily oral health regimen."

"Chewing sugar-free gum like Orbit after eating or drinking is an important part of maintaining a healthy mouth and an easy way to give you a Just Brushed Clean Feeling," said Anne Marie Splitstone, Sr. Director Gum Category. "Wrigley is proud to work with ADHA as a partner to promote 'Brush, Floss, Rinse, Chew' as the foundation of good oral health."

This year's Dental Hygiene Month will feature a national bilingual radio media tour on October 2 centering on the importance of proper dental hygiene. Representing ADHA on the radio media tour will be ADHA President Denise Bowers, RDH, PhD, and Diana Macri, RDH, dental hygiene instructor at the New York University College of Dentistry.

In addition, the Wrigley Company Foundation, in partnership with the ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH), is offering community service grants of $2,500 and $5,000 to dental hygienists who are pursuing projects intended to improve their community's oral health. The application deadline is November 1. More information can be found on the ADHA IOH website.

The 2013 NDHM is the capstone of ADHA's yearlong centennial celebration of the founding of dental hygiene in 1913. For more details on this year's festivities, visit www.adha.org/ndhm.

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