Bangkok – Thailand’s Dental Council and the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) say they plan to take legal action against an oral care company for making exaggerated claims about its products. They did not disclose the name of the company in question during a press conference on Friday.
President of the Dental Council, Dr. Paisan Kangwonkit, disclosed the company’s online advertisements, which claims its toothpaste and mouthwash could whiten teeth within a week and fix tooth problems in less than a month, were misleading. Dr. Paisan confirmed there have been no medical journals to substantiate that the oral care products could treat tooth decay or remove dental plaque, adding that oral problems must be treated by dentists only.
Channel 3 host Patcharasri “Kalamare” Benjamas, who the advertisements claim to be among the brand’s advocates, was at the press conference to deny her involvement. She said she had tried to ask the company in question to stop using her pictures in its publicity, but it had refused. She warned consumers to be skeptical of the company’s commercials.
Pol Col Prateep Charoengulpa, Director of the OCPB’s Direct Sales and Direct Marketing Division, cautioned the public to beware of online marketing that makes use of celebrities or net idols. The OCPB and the Dental Council are moving to file for the suspension of the company’s advertisements. Those at the company, if found guilty of deceiving consumers, face a fine of up to 50,000 baht and jail terms of up to six months.
 |
 |
