Oral Health Basics

CEBU, Philippines – Oral disease is a serious public health problem in the Philippines. Nearly nine of 10 Filipinos have dental caries, meaning tooth decay and cavity. The figures are alarming, especially with 97.1 percent of six-year-old children having the problem, mostly manifesting symptoms of dentinogenic infection.

According to the National Oral Health Survey, conducted in 2006, Filipinos bear the burden of gum diseases early in their childhood. While tooth decay and gum diseases, in general, do not directly cause disability or death, these conditions can weaken the body’s defenses and serve as entry points to other more serious and potentially dangerous systemic diseases and infections, like arthritis, heart disease, endocarditis, gastro-intestinal diseases, and ocular-skin-renal diseases.

Aside from the physical ailments, these two oral diseases may also cause disturbance of speech significant enough to affect work performance, nutrition, social interactions, income, and self-esteem. Among schoolchildren, poor oral health poses detrimental effects on school performance and mars success in later life. In fact, the Department of Health points out, toothache is a common ailment among Filipino schoolchildren, and is a primary cause of absenteeism from school.

Indeed, dental and oral diseases create a silent epidemic, placing a heavy burden on Filipino schoolchildren. A DOH official has said that dental caries and periodontal diseases (where the tissue around a tooth or teeth become infected and swollen) "can be avoided by improving oral health conditions among pre-school children and inculcating a positive oral health behavior to children who will be entering school."

Oral health begins with proper brushing and flossing techniques. The website www.mayoclinic.org shares the  following basics from the American Dental Association:

Brushing for oral health

Oral health begins with clean teeth. Keeping the area where the teeth meet the gums clean can prevent gum disease, while keeping the teeth surfaces clean can help stave off cavities.

. Brush your teeth at least twice a day. When you brush, don't rush. Take enough time to do a thorough job.

.Use the proper equipment. Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, which can reduce plaque and a mild form of gum disease (gingivitis) more than does manual brushing. These devices are also helpful if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively.

.Practice good technique. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle - aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.

.Keep your equipment clean. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Store your toothbrush in an upright position, if possible, and allow it to air-dry until using it again. Don't routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, which can encourage the growth of bacteria.

.Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months - or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

Flossing for oral health

You can't reach the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gumline with a toothbrush. That's why daily flossing is important. When you floss:

.Don't skimp. Break off about 18 inches (46 centimeters) of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. Grip the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.

.Be gentle. Guide the floss between your teeth using a rubbing motion. Don't snap the floss into your gums. When the floss reaches your gumline, curve it against one tooth.

.Take it one tooth at a time. Slide the floss into the space between your gum and tooth. Use the floss to gently rub the side of the tooth in an up-and-down motion. Unwind fresh floss as you progress to the rest of your teeth.

.Keep it up. If you find it hard to handle floss, use an interdental cleaner - such as a special wooden or plastic pick, stick or brush designed to clean between the teeth.

.As long as you do a thorough job, it doesn't matter if you brush or floss first. However, flossing before brushing might allow more fluoride from your toothpaste to reach between your teeth.

In addition to daily brushing and flossing, it also helps to use an antimicrobial mouth rinse or a mouth rinse containing fluoride to promote oral health. The temptation to use toothpicks or other objects that could injure the gums must be resisted.