By Dr. Joseph D. Lim More likely than not, you’ve seen it before: Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Drawn circa 1490, it shows arms outstretched, in a symmetry inside a circle and a square. Vitruvius was a Roman engineer who believed the human body is a well-designed, harmonious physique in perfect proportions, a template in …
The Dentist is In
America in trouble
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim It is true that in these social media times, reading hard copy may not be the norm. Still, we love the feel and convenience of not turning on a device just for the simple pleasure of reading and manually turning actual pages. And Time magazine is our favorite hard copy. …
When was the last time you visited a dentist?
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim When was the last time you’ve seen the dentist? If you don’t remember, you are not probably seeing the dentist regularly. You’re not alone. In the United States, only six in 10 or 65 percent of adults had a dental exam or cleaning in the past year. The American Dental …
The dangers of alcohol and the public’s right to know
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Stronger labeling policies should disclose the health risks of drinking alcohol. This is what prominent consumer protection and safety groups in America said on June 19, calling on their government to include alcohol in efforts to reduce chronic disease. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) led 24 …
Bad teeth traced to bad habits
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim American children have suffered from tooth decay, cavities, stained teeth, gum concerns, or tooth pain. And that’s just over the previous two years, as reported by more than one in three parents who participated in a national survey. The dental issues were linked to the children’s oral hygiene habits, according …
Implants still functional after 40 years
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Dental implants last. And for several decades, according to a new study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and published in the scientific journal Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is surgically placed into the jawbone where …
Sabotage Bill vs. Sin Tax
By Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim We know that tobacco and smoking is dangerous to overall health. It is also detrimental to oral health. Now comes what critics call the “sabotage bill,” and health activists are calling for legislators to stop legislation that will roll back the gains of the Sin Tax. “We object to lower …
An opportunity not to be missed
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Oral diseases do not occur in isolation. Oral diseases occur along with other noncommunicable diseases or NCDs. Oral diseases are linked to a range of modifiable risk factors common to many NCDs. These include sugar consumption, tobacco use, alcohol abuse, poor hygiene, and the underlying health system, social and commercial …
No health without oral health
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim The 4th United Nations High Level Meeting (HLM4) on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) took place on September 25 this year in New York. Heads of states and governments assessed the progress made since the 3rd HLM in 2018 and this time set the vision to prevent and control NCDs towards 2030 …
Good news, bad news
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim There is still hope that the world will overcome this addiction. Over a quarter of the world’s population living in 74 countries are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws. Among smokers who are aware of the dangers of tobacco, most want to quit. Counselling and medication can more than double …