IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HYGIENE
WHY IS ORAL
HEALTH
IMPORTANT?
Oral Health is fundamental to
overall health, well-being and
quality of life. A healthy mouth
enables people to eat, speak and
socialize without pain, discomfort
or embarrassment.
Pain from untreated dental
diseases can lead to eating,
sleeping, speaking, and learning
problems in children and
adolescents, which affect child’s
social interactions, school
achievement, general health, and
quality of life. Rampant dental
caries in children adversely affect
the overall nutrition necessary for
the growth of the body specifically
body weight and height. That
begins with the first bite and
chewing the food efficiently.
WHAT IS A
CAVITY?
Tooth decay is the softening of your
tooth
enamel and refers to the damage of the
structure of the tooth
caused by acids that are created when
plaque bacteria break down
sugar in your mouth. If this loss of
mineral from the enamel is left Taking good care of
untreated, a cavity, or hole in the tooth, your teeth is an
can eventually occur.
Without treatment, these holes can
important part of
grow larger over time maintaining your
and may even destroy the whole tooth. overall health and
If you have gum recessions and
exposed wellness, and that
roots, plaque acids can attack dentin includes preventing
and
the dreaded dental
cause what is known as a root cavity.
cavity

HOW CAN ONE
AVAIL ORAL
SERVICES?
The services of the DOH and the
LGUs can be availed at the Rural
Health Units (RHUs), urban health
centers, districts and
provincial/city hospitals.
For Pregnant women, you must
visit the dentist during your pre-
natal check-ups.
DepEd Services can be availed in
the school health clinics during
school health days.
VISIT YOUR
DENTIST
No matter how diligent you are about
SIGNS & your daily oral hygiene routine, see a
SYMPTOMS OF professional twice a year for routine
cleanings and exams. Having your
TOOTH DECAY
teeth professionally cleaned will
remove plaque and tartar that you
As tooth decay progresses, cavity
can’t remove with over-the-counter
symptoms start to appear. If you
products and tools.
notice any of these common cavity
symptoms, see your dentist as soon
as possible. The earlier symptoms are
identified, the quicker and easier the
cavity treatment will be. Tune in to
your teeth, and be on the lookout for
these cavity symptoms:
Pain: A toothache is one of the
most common cavity symptoms.
Pressure:Both increased tooth
sensitivity and pain when biting
down can indicate a cavity.
Pits: Cavity symptoms may
include a noticeable hole or pit in
the affected tooth. Sometimes the
holes are only visible on a dental
x-ray.
An interview
with Jonathan
Hames, the
world's most
innovative
person.