Rethinking accessibility: Initiative aims to make oral care more inclusive

New European-wide research released by Oral-B reveals that one-third of the 166 million people in Europe who are affected by a disability in some way have experienced gum issues in the past year. Of the people surveyed in the UK, France, Germany and Italy, almost half of people (47 per cent) with disabilities have not been taught how to brush their teeth properly and over a fifth (23 per cent) of disabled Europeans feel demotivated when it comes to maintaining their oral health.

To launch The Big Rethink campaign, the brand is working with the International Association for Disability and Oral Health (iADH). The first step of this partnership is the launch of the ‘Positive Practices’ programme, designed to train and educate dental practices on how to become more confident and inclusive when it comes to their patients. The programme will not only enable Oral-B to become more educated on the physical and mental needs of those with different types of disabilities, but it will also help them to learn how to adapt their product offering and improve the oral health outcomes of those with disabilities. The Big Rethink Content Hub will also offer relevant and helpful content for people with disabilities, their caregivers and families, as well as the professional dental health community.