Tooth Decay, Gum Disease Bug Filipinos

Iloilo City (PIA) — Tooth decay and gum disease are two major oral health problems of Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Based on the DOH official website, the two oral diseases are widespread that 87 percent of Filipinos are suffering from tooth decay or dental caries while 48 percent have gum disease or periodontal disease.

This is why the government continues to make oral health as a priority program in order to curb the prevalence rate of the two oral health diseases.

The DOH Oral Health Program cuts across all life-cycle programs (child, maternal, adolescent, older, person) of the Family Health Office and the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

It aims to reduce the prevalence rate of dental caries and periodontal diseases from 92 percent in 1998 to 85 percent, and from 78 percent in 1998 to 60 percent, respectively, by end of 2016 among general population.

The program also seeks to increase the proportion of Orally Fit Children (OFC) under 6 years old to 12 percent by 20 percent by 2020; to control oral health risks among the young people; and to improve the oral health conditions of pregnant women by 20 percent and older persons by 10 percent every year till 2016.

According to the National Monitoring and Epidemiological Dental Survey (NMEDS) in 2011, the combined ill effects of these two major diseases (except oral cancer) weaken bodily defense and serve as portal of entry to other more serious, potentially dangerous and opportunistic infections overlapping other diseases present.

Such will incapacitate a young victim as in crippling heart conditions arising from oral infection that may end in death.

The DOH said the individuals affected with such handicap have also disturbed speech, became withdrawn and avoided socializing with people and thus, reduced opportunities for advancement.

Meanwhile, the National Dental Health Month is observed in February.

This annual observance started in 1951 as National Dental Health Week but in February 24, 2004, it was expanded into a month-long celebration, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 559. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)