Around the world, every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. Without surgery, they can struggle to breathe, eat, speak, and socialise – with many being shunned altogether by their communities.
In the UK, if a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, they will be treated by the NHS before they are six months old. However, in many countries, these medical resources don’t exist, or the costs are prohibitive. For some families, the cost of an operation is equivalent to a year’s salary.
The LISTERINE® brand will be helping 1,000 children to smile through donating 10p per pack to Operation Smile*.
Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided over 300,000 free surgeries for those born with cleft lip and cleft palate worldwide. They are dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults in over 30 developing countries who could not otherwise access or afford medical care. While one cleft surgery can bring immediate transformation to a child’s life in as little as 45 minutes, Operation Smile is committed to providing patients with health that lasts—being there to offer patients additional surgeries, dentistry, psychological services, speech therapy and other essential cleft treatments.
The LISTERINE® campaign will not only provide support to children and help highlight Operation Smile and the great work they do, but it will also support our mission to create a world without oral health disease.
*Johnson & Johnson Ltd will donate 10p to Operation Smile per applicable product (the Listerine® Total Care Range and Listerine® Ginger & Lime) sold in selected retailers in the UK during promotional periods (Boots: 5.05.21-29.06.21; Superdrug: 19.05.21-15.06.21; Co-op: 26.05.21-15.06.21; Sainsbury’s: 26.05.21-16.06.21). £68,000 to provide support to 1,000 children, including dental care, nutritional support, and speech therapy.
Operation Smile is a registered charity (1091316).