Mumbai, September 30, 2026: Colgate India has conducted an oral health screening programme covering 308,106 students across 547 CBSE-affiliated schools in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over 10 days from August 17 to 28, 2026.

The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian Dental Association (IDA) of Tamil Nadu, with Colgate as the principal sponsor. The programme involved 2,100 dentists and 29 regional dental colleges across 40 districts.

The ‘Largest Multi-Location Oral Screening’ activity was recognised by the World Records Union (WRU). The programme combined oral health screenings with awareness and interventions related to nutrition and substance abuse prevention.

Colgate said the initiative is part of its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF) programme, which was launched in 1991. According to the company, the programme has reached more than 200 million children and their families across India. In 2025, BSBF engaged more than 11 million children across 35,000 schools.

"For nearly nine decades, Colgate has operated not just as an oral care brand, but as a systemic partner in India's foundational health journey," stated Shilpashree Muniswamappa, Director – ESG & Communications, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited. "This World Smile Day milestone validates our collaborative model. I’d like to thank NCB, IDA Tamil Nadu and CBSE for partnering on this vision. Screening over three lakh students in 10 days proves that public-private synergies can rapidly scale critical health interventions. While the World Record highlights the operational scale of this effort, our strategic focus remains on institutionalizing preventive habits that deliver lifelong developmental dividends for the next generation."

The programme forms part of Colgate India's 2030 SMILE Strategy. The company also said its ‘Keep India Smiling’ and Rural Development programmes have reached more than 640,000 beneficiaries through initiatives focused on education, financial inclusion and water security.