Photo Courtesy of DOH
Good oral health equates unlimited smiles….
February is the National Oral Health Month and this year’s theme is “Ngipin ay alagaan mula sa sinapupunan para sa magandang ngiti hangang katandaan”. This is through the Proclamation No. 599 series of 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, declaring the month of February of every year as National Dental Health Month.
Why is oral health important?
Oral Health is fundamental to overall health, well-being and quality of life. A healthy mouth enables people to eat, speak and socialize without pain, discomfort or embarrassment.
Pain from untreated dental diseases can lead to eating, sleeping, speaking, and learning problems in children and adolescents, which affect child’s social interactions, school achievement, general health, and quality of life. Rampant dental caries in children adversely affect the overall nutrition necessary for the growth of the body specifically body weight and height. That begins with the first bite and chewing the food efficiently.
What are the most common oral health illnesses of the Filipinos?
Dental Caries (tooth decay) and Periodontal Diseases (gum diseases) are the two most common oral health diseases affecting the Filipinos. 87.4 % Filipinos are suffering from dental caries while 48.3 % has gum disease (based on the 2011 National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey).
How do we prevent these two dental diseases from occurring?
There are many ways these two most common dental diseases can be prevented.
Dental caries can be prevented through…
• regular visits to the dentist for early diagnosis and preventive care;
• professionally applied fluorides & sealants;
• well-balanced diet;
• minimize eating sugary foods and
• good plaque control through regular toothbrushing and flossing.
Gum diseases can be prevented through…
• regular visits to the dentist for early detection and treatment;
• regular and proper toothbrushing and
• healthy lifestyle such as avoidance of tobacco smoking, drugs & excessive alcohol-intake
Good oral health equates unlimited smiles. Smiling more often, regardless of your mood, can improve your health and even help you live longer. One the benefits of smiling is it lowers blood pressure. Heart health is very important and laughing or smiling more can help lower your blood pressure. An article, published by The College of Family Physicians, says that the act of laughter can lead to an immediate increase in heart rate and oxygen consumption, followed by a period of muscle relaxation, decreased heart rate and lower blood pressure. Even the small amount helps reduce someone’s risk of developing heart disease. Smiling is also a good stress reliever; it activates and relieves your stress response. Studies where individuals had to face stressful situations while smiling were found to have lower heart rates compared to those who weren’t smiling.
References:
20040224-PROC-0559-GMA.pdf (officialgazette.gov.ph)
https://doh.gov.ph/oral-health-program
https://www.brightspringhealth.com/blog/7-health-benefits-of-smiling/
