What’s Stopping You from Taking Care of Your Teeth?

By Dr. Edward Keith S. Beduya

 

When it comes to health and wellness priorities, it is not uncommon knowledge that a majority of Filipinos take dental health the least seriously. In fact, according to a report released by the DOH in 2011, it was revealed that 87% of Filipinos suffer from tooth decay, and about 77% have never even been to a dentist. (https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/stories/83854-oral-health-more-attention-ph)

 

The report does not detail the reasons, but a quick probing among family and friends revealed that, in general, Filipinos just do not understand its importance, andwould rather spend their money on services and subscriptions that focus on the aesthetics like salons, skincare centers, and gym memberships.

 

As a dental professional, I find this attitude, more than anything else, to be alarming, because while I understand that others simply choose to prioritize investing in things that affect their looks, it also sends the underlying impression that schools and homes—the two institutions that directly affect our understanding of health and wellness—are not equipped with the knowledge and understanding needed to preach the importance of proper oral care.

 

And if there was any better indication of such, there aren’t any major projects dedicated to addressingthis persisting issue that—for its magnitude—somehow remains to be quiet.

 

For those of you reading this, please allow me a couple more sentences to lay down a couple of important reasons why you should put more attention to your oral care. First, tooth decay is a silent process. You’ll never really notice it unless its already causing major problems. And it can lead to problems that affect more than just your mouth, but other functions of your body as well. The same goes for gum problems.

 

In addition to these, a poor oral health can also lead toaestheticissues, like tooth loss, yellowing of the teeth, and even facial deformation (which by the way, is getting more and more common nowadays); issues that, in turn, affect one’s confidence.

 

I end this piece with a short piece of advice. Regardless if you’re feeling OK, look for a dentist near you and book an appointment. Just let him or her check for any arising issue. It’s not that expensive. If you can afford a monthly gym membership or a meal at a fancy café, you can definitely afford this.

Do this at least twice a year. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and use a dental floss.

 

Do these not for anything else, but for your own sake.