Health authorities urge better oral hygiene habits

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Regional and local health authorities on Friday, Nov. 7, reminded the public to prioritize oral health as much as other aspects of well-being to avoid health risks that may affect other parts of the body.

In a statement, the Department of Health–Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WVCHD) reiterated its “#Ngiting7020” goal, which aims for every Filipino to retain at least 20 natural, healthy, and functioning teeth.

“Poor oral health is not just about cavities or bad breath; it is linked to serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and poor nutrition. Yet, it is often neglected. Through #Ngiting7020, we aim to change that narrative,” the DOH-WVCHD said.

The agency emphasized the availability of oral health services through the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0034 outlines benefits for preventive oral services in primary care, covering Routine Preventive Oral Care (RPOC) and emergency tooth extraction through PhilHealth-accredited Konsulta Package Providers or DOH-accredited facilities.

Covered RPOC services include oral examinations, dental prophylaxis or cleaning, fluoride varnish application, and pit and fissure sealants for children or root surface protection and Class V restorations for adults.

With these services available, DOH-WVCHD said the public could now follow the recommended two dental visits per year, or one every six months.

“Let us not normalize ‘bunot’ and ‘pustiso,’ which are both preventable, as well as oral diseases like cavities and gum diseases,” the agency stated.

“They can avail of the [services] in all accredited PhilHealth Konsulta Providers to maintain good oral health,” it added.

DOH-WVCHD held a press conference Friday, where Dr. Ramon Mateo Grecia, the regional program coordinator for oral health, delivered the agency’s statement.

Grecia said the emphasis on service availability is part of efforts to address the shortage of dentists and improve health-seeking behavior around oral care.

He said the current dentist-to-patient ratio is 1:50,000, but the agency has been lobbying for a 2:50,000 ratio.

Grecia noted that while the regional office maintains a regular dental health program, many local governments fall short in prioritizing oral care.

“In some of our provinces, we have a lack of dentists in providing routine preventive oral health care,” he said.

“Our dentists are also capacitated when it comes to implementing our oral health program, but we cannot do it in terms of providing services,” he added.

“Although [oral health] is being prioritized in some provinces, some still don’t prioritize us, specifically when it comes to the oral health program,” he said.

Dentist Revielynne Joy A. Dela Cruz, Iloilo City Health Office’s oral health program coordinator, said the city’s ratio of one dentist per 27,000 patients is better than in most of the region, but health-seeking behavior remains a concern.

“We have 17 dentists, so it is already above the national target,” Dela Cruz said.

“But our problem here [in Iloilo City] is the mindset and the oral health-seeking behaviors of the public. They only approach dentists when they are feeling something,” she added.

“We can sometimes say, ‘I’ll just go to the dentist later because I haven’t been feeling anything,’ but we already go to the dentist when there’s swelling or infection,” she said.

“That’s most probable because many of us only go when we have an extraction,” she added.

“What we’re promoting now is to prevent that, that it doesn’t get to the point of already having infections, pain, or discomfort,” Dela Cruz said.

She emphasized that dental services are available at all of the city’s district health centers, with some barangay health stations also offering services.