QUEZON City, Philippines (February 15) – When taking picture everyone says, “Say cheese! Smile!” So, you do and show your teeth. The healthier your teeth are, the happier you look.
Cleaning our teeth needs proper knowledge; it’s like learning how to read A-B-C, and learning how to tie your shoes. Many of us do not prioritize teeth and gum problems; some of us would rather have their nails or hair done, than go and see a dentist and have their teeth checked and cleaned.
Based on the 2011 National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey, 87.4 percent of Filipinos suffer from dental caries while 48.3 percent have periodontal disease.
Did you know that not enough care and focus on dental problems could affect someone’s well being and could lead to many health problems and complications.
Having no teeth or decaying teeth could affect a person’s chance for employment. Most people make instant judgments based on appearance, including someone’s smile and teeth. Customer service jobs, good entry-level jobs, they’re not available to people who lack the basic ability to smile, to function, to chew properly. Those views can prevent potential employers from recognizing potential assets. Most of the job requires interacting socially with the public, it’s almost impossible for the people who have dental problems to get a job.
Also, children who have decaying teeth are usually absent from school or affect their performance because of toothache. According to the US National Library of Medicine, over a 3-month period, 5.1 percent of 12- and 4.4 percent of 15-year-olds absented themselves from school due to toothache. Toothaches were significantly associated with school absence. Severe dental decay was the main dental factor related to school absence but not significantly associated with school absence in the adjusted analyses. Children in lower school grades and those who received dental treatment in current semester were more likely to miss school compared with their counterparts.
Moreover, dental cavities could also lead to health ailments. There are more serious health problems that result from poor oral care. The Mayo Clinic, as well as a report from ABC News, highlights some major areas of concern:
Cardiovascular disease: In a nutshell, this means heart disease. The bacteria from inflammation of the gums and periodontal disease can enter your bloodstream and travel to the arteries in the heart and cause atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Atherosclerosis causes plaque to develop on the inner walls of arteries which thicken and this decrease or may block blood flow through the body. This can cause an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The inner lining of the heart can also become infected and inflamed a condition known as endocarditic.
Dementia: The bacteria from gingivitis may enter the brain through either nerve channels in the head or through the bloodstream that might even lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Respiratory infections: The Journal of Periodontology warns that gum disease could cause you to get infections in your lungs, including pneumonia. While the connection might not be completely obvious at first, think of what might happen from breathing in bacteria from infected teeth and gums over a long period of time.
Diabetic complications: Inflammation of the gum tissue and periodontal disease can make it harder to control your blood sugar and make your diabetes symptoms worse. Diabetes sufferers are also more susceptible to periodontal disease, making proper dental care even more important for those with this disease.
It’s not about brushing or flossing that keeps your teeth healthy, keep in mind to also be cautious on the food you eat and drink. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water instead of soda. It’s also important to visit the dentist twice a year. And don’t forget to wear your healthy smile!
(written by Mia Caragay, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
