One of the best assets a person could have is a great smile—and a requisite for this is a set of healthy-looking teeth. However, a confident smile should also come with a well-maintained oral routine.

The visual appeal of teeth is just one component of what defines good oral hygiene. Overall, apart from teeth, the mouth should be kept clean and healthy, and brushing is sometimes not enough. Hence, one needs to visit the dentist in order to achieve optimum oral health care through professional advice and treatments.

A lot of people are still hesitant or afraid to visit the dentist. Perhaps it has something to do with the fear of pain, especially at the thought of tooth drilling, among others. But, as dentists would say, prevention is better than cure. People should establish regular checkups with their respective dentists even before one’s tooth starts to ache. There’s nothing to be scared of, as they would put it.

Every February, most dentists further reiterate their advocacy for premium oral health as they celebrate the annual Dental Health Month. This is a time when dental groups and brands hold events that promote awareness about oral hygiene and dental care.

A complex relationship

In a recent press lunch, dentists at Metro Dental revealed the Top 7 oral problems here in the Philippines, namely: Bad Breath, Tooth Decay or Erosion, Gum Disease, Mouth Sores, Tooth Sensitivity, Unattractive Smile, and Oral Cancer.

These are problems that need to be addressed, as one’s overall health has a “complex” relationship with oral health. “Oral health can offer clues to one’s overall health status,” says Dr. Jayme Concepcion, DMD, Head Dentist of Metro Dental SM Fairview.

To illustrate, there are actually health issues linked to dental problems. Some of these include Alzheimer’s disease (tooth loss before age 35 can be a risk factor), respiratory infections (gum disease may increase the risk of acquiring respiratory infections like pneumonia), eating disorders, Sjogren’s syndrome (an immune system disorder), diabetes, and osteoporosis, among others.

All it takes to help avoid these or address these at an early phase is a sense of commitment to one’s health, starting with one’s oral hygiene.

It’s actually easy, as Dr. Concepcion and her colleagues can attest. Here are a few basic steps:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.

• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

• Floss daily.

• Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks (the mouth produces more acid as you eat more in order to breakdown food).

• Schedule regular dental checkups.

• Watch for signs and symptoms of oral disease and don’t hesitate to visit your dentist when there is a problem.

“An oral health regimen consists of things you can do on your own and things a dentist can do for you,” shares Dr. Concepcion.

When it comes to dental health, it takes two to tango. The Metro Dental team, for example, tries to encourage regular dental checkups by opening mall-based clinics for easy accessibility to cater to different markets. “What we’re trying to do is give access to everyone,” explains Frederic Peignon, chief operating officer of Metro Dental. “We also don’t want our services to be expensive.”

Education, trends

The Philippines is a nation that still needs further education when it comes to dental health care. As far as Metro Dental is concerned, one advantage of being mall-based is being able to educate more consumers on dental health. “We want to educate people to not just go to the dentist when they have pain,” says Dr. Concepcion.

These days, more Filipinos are becoming more aware of how to take care of their teeth.

“We noticed that nowadays, there are less extraction cases compared (to years) before,” says Dr. Concepcion. “Most parents don’t want their kids to end up having their teeth extracted, so they bring them to the dentist more often.” As Dr. Concepcion reveals, they actually have kid patients who just visit their clinics to watch a movie or so sometimes—no need to undergo any treatments. It’s alright, as this measure helps a child adjust his/her mindset and lessen the fear of dentists.

Another trend seen is that the youth are also into wearing braces. “Some of them even get the glow-in-the-dark variants,” reveals Dr. Divinae Del Rio, DMD, a dentist for Metro Dental.

For adults, dentures are not used as much due to the rise of permanent implants. Also noticeable here in the Philippines is the Filipinos’ concern for aesthetics, as teeth whitening and cosmetic procedures like veneers are currently taking the spotlight.

A ‘sensitive’ issue

As mentioned before, teeth sensitivity is one of the major concerns here in the Philippines. In a consumer survey, it was revealed that seven out of 10 Filipinos have sensitive teeth—and a group of dentists have taken the initiative to address this one.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), through its Sensodyne toothpaste brand, has been committed in the battle against teeth sensitivity—as such that it gathered around 2,000 dentists in the Philippines to share their expertise in dentine hypersensitivity. Just recently, Sensodyne hosted an event called “The Repair and Protect Mission: The First and Largest Nationwide Fight Against Hypersensitivity,” where Filipino dentists invited shoppers at the SM Mall of Asia to have their teeth checked for sensitivity; this event was complemented by games and other fun activities.

It’s about educating consumers in using products fit for sensitive teeth, according Eduardo Joseph Cimafranca III, senior product manager for consumer healthcare at GSK. “A lot of people’s lives have been compromised because of dentine hypersensitivity,” he says. “One of the tricks to combat it is to use products specifically made for sensitivity. Compared to other markets, Filipinos frequently brush their teeth, like three times a day. They have good hygiene.”

Raising awareness about teeth problems like dentine hypersensitivity seems to work. In his speech at the Sensodyne event, Dr. Eric Tayag, assistant secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), underscored that these types of programs strengthen ties between doctors and dentists. Dr. Tayag is enthusiastic that the DOH will have more programs related to oral health in the nearest future.