In a bold move to transform oral hygiene habits across Nigeria, Unilever Nigeria, through its oral care brand Pepsodent, has launched a major national campaign under the theme “Do the 2- Brush Day and Night,” targeting over 50 million Nigerians with a simple but powerful message: brush twice daily, morning and night.

The campaign “Do the 2” was unveiled at a press conference held at Unilever Nigeria’s office on Billings Way, Oregun, Lagos, to mark World Oral Health Day 2026, bringing together the Nigerian Dental Association, the Federal Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders in what is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious oral health drives the country has seen.

Johnathan Okeke, Head of Customer Strategy and Planning at Unilever Nigeria, set the tone for the campaign launch with remarks that went straight to the heart of the problem.

“Most Nigerians only brush once a day, usually in the morning, and this is not enough to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Night time brushing, which most people skip, is actually the most important because germs and bacteria multiply rapidly while we sleep,” he said. “Do the Two is our call to action and a reminder that for us to have good oral hygiene, we must brush twice daily, day and night.”

Okeke was emphatic that oral health is far bigger than a dental issue. “Oral health is a major reason why children skip school. It impacts adult productivity, our self-confidence and overall family healthy living,” he said.

He noted that Pepsodent’s partnership with the Nigerian Dental Association, state and federal ministries of health and other partners has for years delivered strong outcomes through school outreach programmes, community activations and free dental care. “It is our commitment to continue doing this together, and we are sure that with this commitment this year, we will make it count,” he added.

Laureta Amie, Brand Manager for Pepsodent Nigeria, provided deeper context on the campaign’s scale and reach. She shared that to date, the brand has reached over 5,050 schools, engaged more than 350,000 students and covered 25 states across Nigeria through its school programmes. For 2026, the ambition goes significantly further.

“Across multiple media touchpoints, we aim to reach over 50 million Nigerians with the Do the Two message. We will be present on radio and television, and for the first time in a long while, we will also engage influencer partnerships,” she said.

These will include dental influencers, lifestyle influencers and mother influencers who can authentically communicate the brand’s purpose. The campaign will also have a strong digital presence across Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube. Amie added that in partnership with the Nigerian Dental Association, Pepsodent will this year establish dental clubs in strategic locations across Nigeria and take its school outreach programmes to a new level with more engaging activities for children.

“Our purpose at Pepsodent is to help eradicate oral disease for everyone. We see ourselves as mothers’, partners, we understand and share every mother’s desire to provide proper oral care for her family,” she said.

Dr. Emedom Elias, President of the Nigerian Dental Association, lent the weight of medical authority to the campaign’s message, noting that oral disease affects approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide, Nigeria inclusive.

“Oral health is not only about having clean teeth and gums. It is also about how oral health affects our ability to eat, speak, learn, work and relate with others. When people cannot go to work, an economy is definitely affected,” he said.

Dr. Elias, did not shy away from the structural gaps that make the problem worse in Nigeria. “Most dental clinics are located in urban areas. You can hardly find a dental clinic in a rural area, and that forms part of our campaign trying to get the government to see the need to establish dental clinics in rural areas,” he noted. He called on government, healthcare professionals, oral health manufacturers and all stakeholders to prioritise oral health as a critical component of overall health and to work together to increase access to quality oral healthcare.

He outlined practical steps every Nigerian can take to protect their oral health. “Oral disease can be prevented through simple daily habits including brushing twice daily, flossing, using an appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste, regular dental checkups and avoiding poor oral habits such as opening bottle corks with your teeth which can cause tooth fracture. A six monthly teeth cleaning interval, known as scaling and polishing, is also important irrespective of sex or social status,” he said.

Dr. Elias closed by rallying all Nigerian Dental Association state chapters, dental surgeons and oral care workers behind the campaign. “Oral health is for us all, irrespective of sex, social status and community. A happy mouth is a happy life,” he declared.

Dr. Gloria Uzoigwe, Head of the Dental Division at the Federal Ministry of Health, represented the Minister of Health at the event and brought the government’s commitment firmly into the conversation. “This observance is more than a symbolic occasion. It is a call to action, reminding us that oral health is integral to overall health and wellbeing. It is always said that the mouth is the gateway to the body,” she said.

Dr. Uzoigwe spoke to the Ministry’s ongoing collaboration with Unilever which has taken oral health education, free dental screenings and oral hygiene support to schools across Lagos, Rivers State, the FCT, Delta and several other states. She noted that the Ministry has also moved beyond Abuja to train community health workers, traditional healers and community information officers on early detection and referral of oral health cases. “Without information, people will not know that there are places where they can be treated free of charge,” she said.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to integrating oral health into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, noting that legislation is currently in process to make this mandatory. “Together, let us build a future where every Nigerian can smile with pride, free from preventable oral diseases,” she said.