SOME 5.3 million students have enrolled for school year 2021-2022.
As our children attend online classes once again, it is an opportune time to reach out and bring the message that good oral health is good overall health.
According to the Department of Education, a total of 5,356,643 students have enrolled. Of that. 734,306 students are enrolled in public schools and 63,102 students in private schools.
Students enrolled in state universities and colleges or local universities and colleges numbered at 1,908.
CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) has the most enrollees at 710,526.
It is followed by Central Luzon at 450,202; Western Visayas at 436,301; and Metro Manila at 428,943.
School year 2021-2022 will open on September 13, with blended learning as the principal mode of instruction because of the continuing threat of COVID-19.
I believe this is an opportune time, an excellent opportunity, to educate our students, especially those in elementary and high schools, of the importance of good oral health care.
They should know right from the beginning of education that brushing their teeth at least twice a day and seeing the dentist at least twice a year for check-ups are important.
Of course, seeing the dentist is now a challenge because it is recommended that people do so only for very important oral health issues such as an unbearable toothache.
Let me stress that visiting the dentist is safe during the COVID pandemic – provided that dental clinics follow the strict protocols prescribed by the Philippine Dental Association. These include personal protective equipment for dentists and dental staff, social distancing in dental clinics, disinfecting the dental chair after each patients, and so on.
Safety protocols, in any case, have long been a practice in dental clinics.
Patients too must adhere to health protocols such as wearing face masks, social distancing, washing hands frequently and so on.
Having said that, teachers should include good oral health habits in their lesson plans.
Our students should be aware that good oral health care habits are essential from infancy to adulthood.
Brushing the teeth and dental check-ups means healthy teeth, less cavities, and healthy gums. So are not smoking, eating a healthful diet and avoiding sugary foods.
Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, is the first recommendation of the American Dental Association on good oral health habits.
Second, clean between your teeth daily. Third, eat a healthy diet that limits sugary beverages and snacks. And fourth, see the dentist regularly for prevention and treatment of oral disease
Very basic suggestions from dentists. However, taken seriously and taught at an early stage, the recommendations go a long way in providing our children and our students with good oral health that lasts long into adulthood.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; and Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515./PN
