Dental Health Month: A key to overall health

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Philippines — TO encourage awareness of the importance of good oral health, Dental Health Month is observed in February each year. The event pays tribute to the many Filipino men and women who continue to reach out to those who do not have dental access and ensure for Filipinos a quality of health care equal to that of their foreign counterparts.

This year’s celebration will feature health advocacy campaign projects such as the “Kabarangay sa Dental Health’’ in some communities and the “Zero Cavity Mission’’ in public schools until March, 2009.

Good oral health does not just mean pretty teeth or an attractive smile. Poor oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant impact on the quality of life. In many cases, the condition of the mouth mirrors the condition of the body as a whole.

Seeing a dentist every six months can help identify disease at its earliest stages. A dental exam also picks up on poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development problems, and improper jaw alignment. General and oral health are inseparable. Because of this, a number of oral-related quality of life measures have been developed.

Diseases that disrupt mouth and teeth functions are likely to damage self-image and alter the ability to build social relationships. Unfortunately, however, despite the scientific advances in oral health, they have not yet found their way to all regions of the world. Many countries continue to suffer pain, impairment of functions, and reduced quality of life because of oral diseases.

We should not take oral health for granted for good oral health is a key to overall health.

Source: Manila Bulletin Online