The tooth is out there

If you were packing for a trip and could bring only one of these three items – dental floss, toothbrush, mouthwash – which one would you choose?

What type of toothbrush bristle is best: soft, medium, or firm? The answers  to these trivia questions made for interesting conversation with dentists from the UP College of Dentistry, whom we met in Bacolod City during the weekend of the Masskara festival. Masskara is held annually in mid-October in this capital city of Negros Occidental, also known as the City of Smiles.

"We have been ‘raiding’ the different fiestas in the provinces as part of our nationwide effort to help improve the state of oral health in our country," says Ming Arroyo, senior product manager of Gillette Management (S.E.A.) Pte. Ltd. "It is during these fiestas that we seize the opportunity to remind people to take care of their teeth by brushing after meals."

Tagged as the "Oral-B Aahmbush," the educational campaign aims to raise awareness among the grassroots populace about the importance of dental care. Free dental check-ups are an integral part of the activity.

At the Oral-B booth, which was set up right at the entrance of the Food Court at Robinsons where there was a mall-wide sale, a stream of people – students, employees, mothers with kids in tow – took the time to have their teeth checked.

"As many as 30 people had their teeth checked within the first hour alone since the booth opened," reported Andre Jonas Arellano, assistant professional relations manager of Gillette Management S.E.A. By the end of the second day, more than a hundred would have had their teeth checked at the Oral-B dental booth.

"There seems to be a higher level of awareness for dental care here," observed Dr. Susana Sotelo of the UP. College of Dentistry, "unlike in the other places we have been to."

The "Oral-B Aahmbush" was previously at the Bangus festival in Dagupan, Pahiyas in Lukban, and Penafrancia in Bicol, among others. The observation came as a bit of a surprise, considering that Bacolod is sugar land and a higher incidence of tooth decay was expected, due to the sweets in their diet. In fact, a study showed that nine out of every 10 Filipinos have dental cavities.

"We saw more healthy teeth here," Sotelo remarked. "They came, not only because the check-up was for free, but because apparently, they were aware of the importance of dental care."

How many times a day should you brush your teeth? How many times a year should you see your dentist? How often should you change your toothbrush?

These were the key questions asked by Rexylin Cabaltera, the charming 16-year-old nursing student who did the spot interviews for Oral-B with the "ambushed" man on the street, which was covered by the local ABS-CBN TV station. At the same time, free dental check-ups were done inside the roving Oral-B Coaster, even while elsewhere in the city, the Masskara street dancing competition was going on.

"Ideally, you should brush your teeth three times a day, but two times is acceptable, in the morning and at night, the more important being the one before sleeping," says Dr. Giselle Yumul of the UP College of Dentistry and community development committee. Yumul has been doing outreach dental clinics with UP for some time and she was pleased to support the Oral-B campaign. "You should have a dental check-up at least every six months," she says, "and change your toothbrush every three months."

The bristles of Oral-B toothbrushes have a blue color indicator that fades halfway so you know when to replace your toothbrush. Clinical research showed that a new toothbrush can remove 30 percent more plaque than one that is three months old.

Another study conducted by AC Nielsen showed that 81 percent of dentists use Oral-B toothbrushes. And the type of bristles? "It’s best to use soft bristles, to protect gums," Yumul says. "Toothpaste provides a pleasant feeling, but it’s better if it has fluoride. You can brush your teeth even without toothpaste. Some people use salt. If you are caught at the beach, you can use sand and salt water. And if you can bring only one item on a trip, bring dental floss."

It’s never too early to visit your dentist. "As soon as the kids have their first teeth," Yumul remarked. She believes in the preventive approach and recommends tooth extraction only when there’s a threat of infection. "Kids are not able to eat properly when they suffer from dental problems," Yumul observed, "but once their teeth are fixed, their mothers notice that their kids gain weight."

Diet plays an important role and eating food rich in vitamin C, commonly found in fruits like apples, pears, ponkan, lemons, citrus fruits, and green and leafy vegetables, is essential to keeping teeth and gums healthy.

Among the places in Bacolod City visited by the Oral-B team during the Masskara festival was Lopue’s Araneta and Lopue’s East, which both belong to one of Bacolod’s large grocery chains; Rose Pharmacy and N&M Pharmacy, the best sellers of Oral-B toothbrushes; Nena’s Beth at Manukan Country in the reclaimed area, popular for Bacolod’s famous chicken inasal; Aboy’s, a favorite restaurant among both foreign and local tourists, and 18th St. Pala Pala seafood restaurant, where the La Carlota Drumbeaters provided the appropriate background beat to the Masskara festivities; and Bong Bong’s, well-known for pasalubong shopping such as Bacolod’s famous barquillos and piaya.

Bacolod’s Masskara festival was first held 26 years ago to lift the spirits of the Negrenses at that time of crisis, when the price of sugar was crashing in the world market. Masskara means "many faces." Oral-B could not have chosen a better place to be than in Bacolod as it celebrated its 26th Masskara festival. The ambush interviews as well as the free dental check-ups did not fail to bring a smile on everyone’s faces. Even behind the masks, you knew this was a happy place.