By Dr. Joseph D. Lim The need for global action on oral health has received unprecedented attention. This is because many oral diseases are preventable. However, oral diseases have high prevalence and a lifelong impact on people’s health. Dental and oral health services are still not included in Universal Health Care in many countries, known …
The Dentist is In
Alzheimer’s and oral health
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Alzheimer’s might be lurking in gum disease. Research at the University of Louisville has discovered Porphyromonas gingivalis, a key factor in chronic periodontitis or gum disease. It was identified in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients. In separate experiments with mice, researchers found that oral infection caused by Porphyromonas gingivalis …
Digital dental data
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim The FDI World Dental Federation recently released a landmark Consensus Statement on Integrated Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The FDI World Dental Federation (French: Fédération Dentaire Internationale) represents more than one million dentists worldwide, including dentists in the Philippines. The FDI statement urges health systems worldwide to transition into digital health …
No health without oral health
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim In November 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened the first-ever global oral health meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. It was part of the preparatory process for the 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in September this year. The landmark event aimed to accelerate and scale up the prevention …
Sugar and tooth decay
By Dr. Joseph Lim Sugar is the main culprit behind tooth decay — or dental caries. The condition develops after bacteria inside the mouth change sugars to produce acid that demineralizes the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel and dentine). In many countries, sugars-sweetened beverages, including fruit-based and milk-based sweetened drinks and 100 percent fruit …
Truth in labels
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. …
Regrowing teeth
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 …
Dessert stomach
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 …
Truth in labels
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. …
Anti-science myths
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 …