The Dentist is In

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim It’s a process that has nothing to do with Taal and Kanlaon, both recently exhibiting signs of restlessness. It’s called an eruption, the early stage in our lives baby teeth is lost. It sets the opening for stronger permanent teeth. Trivia: Rabbits never stop regrowing their teeth, a process not …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Sugar is sweet, sure. Overindulgence may also lead to dental caries, or tooth decay. Dental caries develops when bacteria in the mouth metabolize sugars to produce acid that demineralizes the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel and dentine). Dental caries is the most common noncommunicable disease worldwide, according to the …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim And talking of sugar and foods in our previous column, there are now new requirements, in the United States anyway, before American manufacturers can claim their food product as “healthy.” Manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim have three years to conform but can use the new criteria sooner. …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim We chanced upon an excellent article on the myths circulating in social and conventional media, myths that are harmful. One of the myths is that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was engineered by laboratory scientists in China. And yet, writes Ethan Siegel in bigthink.com, “The scientific evidence that has been collected …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim There are two conditions that affect primarily the face: noma and cleft lip and palate. Noma is nothing to laugh about. If left untreated, noma is deadly in most or 90 percent of cases. If and when detected at an early stage, noma can be rapidly halted through basic hygiene, …

By Dr. Joseph Lim Oral health clearly belongs with general health. Oral health has been linked with other diseases, the social determinants of health and the socio-biological interactions of the oral diseases. Indeed, it has been linked to the realms of psychosocial dentistry. Merriam-Webster defines psychosocial as the “interaction between social and psychological factors … …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim We know that oral health is important. And yet, among many people, it is very commonly neglected. And that is lamentable because while oral diseases can be prevented, they remain very common. “Oral health is critical, as the teeth and mouth are not only an integral part of the body, …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Edentulism simply means complete tooth loss. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that almost seven percent of people aged 20 years or older experiences complete tooth loss. For people aged 60 years or older, nearly one in four people (23 percent) worldwide has the condition. Losing teeth can be psychologically traumatic …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Oral cancers are not to be ignored. They develop on the tongue, on the tissue lining the mouth and gums, under the tongue, at the base of the tongue, and the area of the throat at the back of the mouth. Oral cancers include cancers of the mouth and the …

By Dr. Joseph D. Lim  Oral diseases, while largely preventable, pose a major health burden for many people throughout their lifetime, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement, and even death. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people globally. The United Nations health agency cites data from the Global Burden of …