More than one million people from over 200 countries came to the website last year, and to meet the demand and raise further awareness of the importance of good oral health we are in the process of providing a new multi-language facility to reflect the increase of international reach.

Current work carried out by the International arm includes:

• Approving dental products on every continent to make the Foundation the biggest dental accreditation body in the world
• Working in the Middle East to translate patient information leaflets into Arabic for distribution throughout the Arabian peninsula
• Discussing the launch of Tell Me About patient information leaflets in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand

CAMPAIGNS

The International Dental Health Foundation has previously worked closely with the overseas group Oral Health America to launch National Smile Month in the US.  This has resulted in two successful trans-Atlantic Smile Month campaigns over the last few years.  The Foundation is working hard to establish a more significant presence in the US following positive reactions of their good messages for oral health.

With help from sponsors, Wrigley, as well as supporters Denplan, the Foundation was able to launch National Smile Month in Ireland during 2010 - for the first time. The campaign ran alongside that of the UK version and was deemed a success.

ACCREDITATION

In 1991, the Foundation began an accreditation programme, a claim-based scheme that is overseen by an independent panel to look into the scientific claims of dental products from around the world.  Those products which are approved are awarded the British or International version of the Smiley-face logo which is displayed on packaging to help inform and advise the public.  Demand for worldwide approval continues to grow rapidly and products have been approved on every continent.

Today, there are over 150 approved products registered through the accreditation scheme in more than 50 countries, the Foundation is arguably the biggest dental product accreditation organisation in the world. The Foundation is at the forefront of new ideas and innovations and remains the trusted name in global oral health.