For Roselle Sta. Ana, food used to top her list of expenses; dental care wasn’t exactly a priority. That changed when she experienced wisdom tooth pain so unbearable that she had no choice but to undergo surgery.
“Surgery is expensive. Sa isang wisdom tooth, umaabot siya ng P9,000 kasama na ang X-ray. Hindi ka makakapag-work ng one day or two days kasi affected niya simula ulo,” she said.
Stories like Roselle’s are common.
Severe tooth pain caused by poor oral health is often ignored until the situation becomes urgent.
However, dentists warn that caring for your mouth, teeth and gums isn’t just about avoiding pain — it’s about protecting your overall health.
According to the Philippine Dental Association (PDA), oral health should be part of everyone’s basic health priorities, especially for children.
Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Dr. Sheryl Lantican, chair of the PDA’s Public Health Committee, explained that dental problems in children are not limited to the mouth.
“‘Yung mga bata na madaming sira ang ngipin, nagko-cause din ‘to ng tonsillitis, pati ‘yung pagkakaroon ng ubo or respiratory problem. It is brought about by the bacteria that are present inside the mouth that are transferred dun sa areas na ‘yun,” she said.
What many people don’t realize is that untreated tooth decay can affect the entire body.
When a tooth is badly decayed, bacteria accumulate and multiply. Because blood circulates throughout the body, these bacteria can travel to other organs, including the heart.
“‘Pag nag-severe siya, could lead to more complicated problems. May mga instances na dahil sa sira sa taas ng ngipin, nagkaroon ng problema sa mata kasi umakyat doon ‘yung problema,” Lantican added.
Unfortunately, access to dental care remains a challenge.
PDA data show that one dentist in the Philippines serves more than 50,000 patients — a far cry from the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of one dentist for every 7,000 people.
“Medyo mataas ang population ng Philippines. We need more graduates pa rin, and we need more dentists to serve in the government sector,” Lantican said.
“We’ve been lobbying for the salary increase for quite some time now. Which I hope would be answered soon.”
The Department of Health is also pushing for more funding.
“We are calling for a bigger budget for the oral health program because our resources are really very limited,” said Health Undersecretary Emmie Liza Chiong in a television interview.
Experts also warn parents against the misconception that baby teeth don’t matter because they eventually fall out. Cavities in milk teeth can interfere with how permanent teeth grow, potentially causing long-term alignment and health issues.
On a positive note, PhilHealth has included oral checkups, cleaning and dental fillings in its primary care package — a step health advocates hope will make dental care more accessible.
Dentists maintain that the message is simple: brushing, flossing and regular checkups may seem like small tasks, but they prevent pain, expensive procedures and serious health complications down the line. (ABS-CBN News)