CHARLOTTE, North Carolina--3M ESPE OMNI Preventive Care is donating more than 300,000 doses of its Vanish 5 percent sodium fluoride tooth varnish to the National Children's Oral Health Foundation.
This will allow NCOHF affiliates throughout the United States to administer more than a quarter of a million varnish treatments to underserved children suffering from tooth decay.
Tooth decay is the No. 1 chronic illness among our nation's children. Millions of children suffer from it and the numbers are rising. Untreated disease often results in frightening and costly visits to emergency rooms and millions of missed school hours.
The potential health-related, societal and economic consequences are frightening. The U.S. Surgeon General calls it a "silent epidemic" because most Americans have no idea that it is so widespread.
"Every day millions of children have trouble sleeping, eating, and concentrating in school due to oral pain," said Fern K. Ingber, NCOHF's president and CEO. "They are at risk for serious health problems from poor nutrition and life threatening infections. 3M OMNI Preventive Care's very generous contribution will allow NCOHF to expand and enhance efforts to stop children's needless suffering from preventable pediatric dental disease. The long-term value in the lives of children who will be helped is priceless."
3M OMNI's Vanish varnish was the first unit-dosed 5 percent neutral sodium fluoride white varnish. Unlike other varnishes that may take longer to administer, Vanish varnish sets almost as soon as it is applied, making it ideal for use with infants and young children.
Added bonuses are that Vanish varnish has a pleasant flavor which makes it appealing to young children, and it's white color makes it more acceptable to adolescents.
The FDA cleared the use of fluoride varnishes more than 10 years ago for reducing tooth sensitivity. The American Dental Association supports the use of fluoride varnishes as safe and efficacious within a caries prevention program that includes caries diagnosis, risk assessment, and regular dental care.
For more information or to make a contribution, call (704) 350-1600 or visit National Children's Oral Health Foundation.
To read more about the NCOHF, go to National Children's Oral Health Foundation.
