BPO Workers Urged to Prioritize Oral Health Self-Care

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

MAKATI CITY — Workers in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector have faced health-related challenges throughout their careers, given the nature of their work, and they are being reminded that self-care is available to them and they must take it whenever possible.

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham Philippines) launched the Self-Care Awareness Campaign for BPO Employees on Thursday, June 19.

This was in support of the partnership between the Department of Health (DOH) and American consumer health company Kenvue, to champion the vital importance of comprehensive oral care and to combat the alarming prevalence of oral health issues in the country.

The campaign aims to address the unique health challenges that BPO professionals face, brought about by several work-related factors, from stress and shifting schedules to increased risks of chronic illness.

Their specific objectives include promoting holistic oral care as part of everyday wellness, supporting smoking cessation with practical tools, and highlighting best practices from BPO companies with strong wellness programs.

Dentist Manuel Vallesteros, chief of the DOH’s Oral Health and Nutrition Care Division, pointed out that oral health also involves the gums, the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the palate, cheeks and salivary glands.

“It is very important that we recognize how salivary glands are. Why? Your saliva is your natural defense mechanism against cavities and periodontal disease. The bad news is, as we get older, especially [when we become senior citizens], there will be drying of the mouth. […] The more that you grow older, the more that you should take care of your [oral] health,” Vallesteros said.

Vallesteros cited their data indicating that 73 percent of Filipinos, or close to 80 million, have tooth decay, while 50 percent have periodontal or gum problems, sometimes manifested by bleeding when brushing the teeth.

He also said that 85 percent of children age 5 have decayed teeth, with their first permanent molar already destroyed when they reach adolescence.

Thirty-five percent of Filipinos are toothless, with an average of only six teeth remaining. Sixty percent of those age 65 and older suffer from toothache, are unable to eat and experience dry mouth.

He said that adults should not ignore their oral health despite the responsibilities brought about by growing older.

He cited coping mechanisms to stress, which lead to poor oral health, including smoking and vaping, drinking soft drinks and risky sex behaviors.

“When you reach adulthood, you will have many responsibilities, and many responsibilities come with stress. […] For us in the [DOH], what people need in their adulthood is discipline, [such as] avoiding smoking, drinking, [and] risky behaviors,” he said.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Jose Angelo Militante, president of the Philippine Society of Periodontology, said that tooth decay or dental caries is the most common problem among Filipinos, but added that the loss of teeth is also due to its combination with gum disease.

Gum disease or gingivitis, he said, may easily be addressed with help from the dentist, but it may lead to periodontal disease, which also affects the bones.

“Our notion [is] that gingivitis is simple, it’s an early start of the gum problem, [with] inflamed [and] bleeding gums during brushing. But if you don’t manage it, you don’t consult a dentist and make interventions [or] even prevent it, it would actually go further in what we call a periodontal disease [or] periodontitis,” Militante said.

Militante emphasized that “the mouth is the pathway of everything,” and that anything a person does with their mouth would affect their overall health.

“When you have gingivitis [or] periodontitis, you are prone to cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease, and even the inflammation of the mouth is actually what we call a sign that you would have problems in your cardiovascular system. Of course, it produces low birth rate for women, produces osteoporosis when you have periodontitis, and the worst thing is actually not cardiovascular disease, but diabetes,” he explained.

Pulmonologist Imelda Mateo, medical center chief II of the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City, focused on the risk of smoking, reiterating oral cancer and tongue cancer as just some of its symptoms.

“Smoking, and now vape, contains more than 7,000 harmful chemicals. Just be aware that it’s not nicotine that causes cancer or other diseases. It is the use of nicotine that gets you addicted, to be exposed repeatedly to the harmful chemicals contained in tobacco,” she said.

Vallesteros said that for good oral health, people should have good nutrition and take care of their mouth area.

He also mentioned that people may receive free routine preventive care through KonSulTa package providers.

“For good oral health, [number one,] good nutrition [by] avoiding sweets [and] drinking lots of water. Number two, use fluoride toothpaste, fluoride mouthwash, have fluoride varnish [on your teeth] with your dentist, and number three, have discipline. Life is stressful, but we need to avoid smoking, vaping, alcohol and risky sex behaviors,” Vallesteros said.