Colgate-Palmolive is driven by our purpose to reimagine a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. One way we bring this purpose to life is through our flagship social impact initiative, Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF). Today, we are proud to announce that BSBF has reached over two billion children and their families since 1991. The program currently operates in over 100 countries and is translated in over 40 languages.
Since BSBF launched, it has focused on providing communities that are underserved with free oral health education, while ensuring access to resources including treatment referrals, dental care provider access and more, from an early age. BSBF works with schools, governments, nonprofits, dental providers and nurses to reach children and their families with critical oral health education.
“I am incredibly proud of our Colgate-Palmolive teams worldwide who have helped us reach this extraordinary milestone,” says Noel Wallace, Chairman, President and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive. “At Colgate-Palmolive, we are driven by our purpose to reimagine a healthier future and are committed to fostering brighter smiles through BSBF and our innovative oral health products."
The Importance of Oral Health
Oral health is connected to overall health and wellbeing, however, it is often overlooked by individuals, governments and healthcare professionals. This is troubling as caries are one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), affecting 3.7 billion people worldwide1. This neglect is exacerbated by factors such as economic status, education, health literacy, and access to healthcare.1
Poor oral health has far-reaching effects. It is linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and complications in pregnancy2,3. It also affects mental well-being, self-esteem, job prospects, and social interactions. For children, poor oral health leads to challenges in education, including concentration difficulties and increased absenteeism2-4. Addressing oral health is therefore not only about preventing cavities but also about improving overall quality of life and reducing disease burden. Colgate’s BSBF initiative was created to help ease these burdens and address barriers.
Colgate at the United Nations General Assembly
For the very first time at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), oral health, a common non-communicable disease (NCD), was on the global health agenda. As a leader and convener in the oral health sector, Colgate’s BSBF program hosted a side event during UNGA, bringing together leaders from the public and private sector, policy makers and health experts for an expert roundtable discussion on the connection between oral health and overall health, the value of global partnerships and the importance of oral health education.
Other Collaborative Efforts & Initiatives:
Colgate-Palmolive works year-round to ensure oral health stays top of mind across health systems, governments and communities.
“Oral health profoundly impacts systemic health and can have far reaching impacts beyond the mouth such as mental well-being and social-economic development," says Ram Raghavan, President of Colgate-Palmolive Enterprise Oral Care. “That’s why we are committed to oral health education, prevention and access, working with partners worldwide to identify and address oral health challenges one smile at a time.”
The Company is proud to partner with various nonprofits, organizations and government bodies to ensure collaboration, including:
Save the Children: For over a decade, we have worked together to expand oral health access and improve care for children in underserved communities providing emergency response relief and hygiene product distribution.
World Economic Forum (WEF): In 2023, Colgate-Palmolive helped establish WEF's Oral Health Affinity Group to unite private and public sector leaders in embedding oral health into global health agendas. In 2024, the Company co-authored a white paper through WEF, The Economic Rationale for a Global Commitment to Invest in Oral Health.
Government Partnerships: BSBF continuously partners with local governments and Ministries of Health globally to understand challenges and needs to co-create customized oral health solutions for their citizens including,
A national mutli-year in-school brushing program in the United Kingdom to combat childhood tooth decay for students ages 3-5.
A partnership with the Philippines Department of Education and local governments to embed a comprehensive caries prevention program, including education, and daily toothbrushing in schools.
A multi-regional partnership with Kenya, Tanzania, and five other African countries, through each nation's Ministry of Health, to provide vital oral health education directly to communities.
Looking Ahead
Colgate-Palmolive will continue to advance oral health through BSBF and collaborative partnerships. By leveraging our global footprint, we are proud to position oral care as essential to overall health and well-being and to positively impact children and families around the world.
References:
1. World Health Organization. Oral health. World Health Organization, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health.
2. Dörfer, C, et al. The Relationship of Oral Health with General Health and NCDs: A Brief Review. Int Dent J. 2017.
3. Kisely S. No Mental Health without Oral Health. Can J Psychiatry. 2016.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Fast Facts. Accessed August 18, 2025.
5. Sustainable Development Goals and Oral Health: A Forsaken Link - PMC, accessed June 24, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12013998/.
