Proper nutrition starts with healthy teeth, says Maasin City health unit

By Ma. Rebecca G. Cadavos

Thursday 26th of July 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 26 (PIA) -- The city government of Maasin, through the city health units (CHUs), advocated proper toothbrushing to start at an early age, for orally fit children.

During the “Maasin City in Action” radio program, Dr. Manolo Gaviola, CHU dentist, said proper nutrition should start with maintaining healthy teeth.

“This year, the city government is focusing on at least 33 barangays, and will visit day care centers where proper toothbrushing and handwashing will be taught to day care children,” Gaviola said.

Toothbrushes, toothpastes and handwashing soaps supplied by the Department of Health (DOH) will be distributed to these day care centers, Gaviola added.

An orally fit child is one who meets the following: healthy gums, caries-free or filled carious teeth, no dental plaque and no dentofacial anomaly that limits normal function.

"It can lower self-esteem if you have bad teeth or no teeth at all,” he said.

The orally fit child campaign of the Department of Health promotes good toothbrushing techniques, healthy diet, filling of cavities to relieve pain and discomfort, as among other proper oral hygiene that prevent gum disease, thereby leading to proper nutrition.

Dentist Dianne Dagami based in Barangay Manhilo CHU demonstrated the proper toothbrushing. “Toothbrushing should be circular in motion downward and upward, and the tongue should be included since most of the times food residues remain in the tongue,” she said, adding that toothbrushes should be changed every three months. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)