It's called Polident in America, Corega in Europe... So who invented it?
Polident, known in America, and Corega, known in Europe, was produced in 1907 by pharmacist Alexander Block, who immigrated to the USA from Russia. For this purpose, Alexander Block named his company, which he founded in New York, Block Drug. This company's most famous dental product brands were later acquired by GlaxoSmithKline.
In 1930, the company Block Drug developed the Polident tooth powder, including the Poly-Grip denture adhesive, especially for the elderly. In the 1950s, Block began using television to market its products, and these promotions were very successful. The success of this marketing method led to new products and a new product family was created around the Polident name.
The company was founded in 1907 by Alexander Block, a Russian immigrant who had a small drugstore on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, New York. He turned the company into a wholesaler in 1915, then became a drug manufacturer in 1925, acquiring a 50 percent interest in Wernet's Dental Manufacturing Company.
By 1966, Block was spending $10.5 million a year protecting the highly successful Polident denture cleaner against fierce competition. Rival Warner-Lambert launched Efferdent denture cleaner tablets, which reportedly debuted on the West Coast during this period.
GlaxoSmithKline bought the company for $1.24 billion in 2001 and acquired brands including Polident. After the takeover, the brand was marketed as "Corega" in European countries.
Block Drug Company was a pharmaceutical company based in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, that specialized in dental care products. Its most popular products included Polident denture cleanser, Poli-Grip denture adhesive, Dentu-Creme denture toothpaste, Nytol sleeping pill, Tegrin medicated shampoo for psoriasis, Lava hand soaps (acquired from Procter & Gamble), Beano and Phazyme anti-gas products, Balmex diaper rash ointments, and Sensodyne desensitizing toothpaste. GlaxoSmithKline purchased the company for $1.24 billion in 2001.
Sensodyne
Sensodyne is also owned by GlaxoSmithKline and is marketed as "Shumitect" in Japan. Sensodyne is a brand of toothpaste sold by Block Drug, a Brooklyn, New York-based company founded in 1907 by pharmacist Alexander Block.