The extra factor

Wrigley’s Extra has joined forces with singer-songwriter Diana Vickers, to give that extra boost to the nation’s largest campaign for better oral health.  The campaign supports the core aims of the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme in reminding patients to improve their regular oral healthcare routine. That’s why Extra is a committed sponsor of National Smile Month (May 19 –June 19) for another year running.

Diana Vickers, is the face of the Wrigley media campaign. She’ll be promoting the message to the public that taking care of teeth brings a clean and healthy smile, especially when snacking on the go. Diana explains: “When I’m on stage, on set, shooting a video or out and about at a festival, I always have a bottle of Extra White Bubblemint to hand – especially for just after eating and drinking as it is proven to help remove stains and maintain my teeth’s natural whiteness – so I know I can always draw on my smile with complete confidence.”

The benefits of chewing sugar-free gum are well documented in stimulating saliva production which can last up to two hours.  And chewing Extra has been proven to help remove 95 per cent of food debris and sugar in just two minutes after eating and drinking, giving patients even more to smile about.  The campaign couldn’t be better timed with a focus on preventative care rising up the agenda. What’s more, this year Wrigley is bringing the public campaign to dental professionals too, providing new information, CPD and practical resources to help them promote oral care to their patients.

A new ‘Talking to your patients about chewing sugar-free gum’ fact sheet is available to download online. And, exclusively during National Smile Month, The Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme is offering a new, free patient give away: Dental professionals will receive a supply of ‘Check your smile is clean and healthy’ mirror cards with each online order of free Extra samples for their practice. The wallet size mirrors act as a perfect reminder for patients to maintain good oral health practices when snacking ‘on the go’. 

To mark the launch of the public campaign, Wrigley’s Extra White Bubblemint commissioned a consumer study to find out what patients feel about their smiles, and which celeb smile they most admire. 

The survey confirmed what many dental professionals will know better than anyone - that smiles definitely are important to us. 67 per cent of the women surveyed said that they find a smile the most attractive trait in a man, and men feel the same way with 62 per cent saying a smile is most important. And reflecting the growing demand for cosmetic dentistry - 72 per cent wished their teeth looked better, with whiteness being the primary concern for the majority.

An admiration for that gleaming smile also shone out in the celeb poll, with Kate Middleton’s ‘pearly whites’ voted the best amongst female celebrities. Whilst David Beckham and George Clooney top the poll, tying in first place.

To get samples for the dental practice, with free mirror cards, go to wrigleyoralhealthcare.co.uk where there is also information about new CPD opportunities.