Colgate-Palmolive said on Friday its flagship oral health initiative, Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, has reached more than 2 billion children and their families worldwide since its launch in 1991.
The program has already engaged over 185 million children and families in India. Colgate said it is working with education and healthcare departments in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Goa to expand access to oral health education.
Each year, the company aims to reach more than 10 million additional children in India. The program delivers free dental screenings, shares oral hygiene kits and promotes daily brushing habits in both schools and communities.
Tackling a Widespread Challenge
Oral health remains a critical but often overlooked issue in India, especially among children. Socioeconomic gaps and poor awareness have fueled high rates of tooth decay and gum disease. Colgate said addressing these challenges requires preventive care and collaboration between public and private partners.
Shilpashree Muniswamappa, director of ESG and communications at Colgate-Palmolive (India), said the company was committed to supporting India’s shift from reactive to preventive healthcare.
“Our Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, through powerful collaborations with state education and healthcare departments, is a living testament to how collective action can ignite awareness and inspire profound, lasting behavior change,” she said in a statement.
Global Reach and Curriculum
Colgate said BSBF is built on an award-winning curriculum developed with global health and education experts. Available in more than 30 languages, it has been integrated into school systems in several countries.
In 2024 alone, the program reached 150 million more children worldwide.
In the Philippines, partnerships with schools and community nurses brought oral health education to over five million children. In Kenya, daily supervised brushing in schools now reaches more than 34,000 learners.
Building Healthy Habits for Life
Colgate said BSBF helps instill lifelong oral health habits such as brushing twice daily. In many communities, the program also provides a child’s first toothbrush, with extra brushes often shared with family members. The company noted that this small step can spark significant change in household routines.
Beyond oral care, Colgate is also embedding hygiene education in the BSBF framework. In several countries, handwashing lessons have been added to the oral health curriculum to reduce disease transmission among children.
The company further said it would continue scaling the program in both urban and rural regions of India, ensuring every child has access to preventive oral health knowledge. The company emphasized that healthier smiles build not only confidence but also long-term community well-being.
Colgate’s Oral Health Program Reaches 2B Children Across the World
