Is brushing your teeth enough?
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had a chat with Dr. Benjie Delos Reyes, who is famously known as Doc Shaggie and uses TikTok to educate the netizens about dental health.
The exclusive interview, which was facilitated by Cleanstar PH, took place on July 4, 2024.
It focused on essential steps that should be part of everyone's daily brushing routine.
ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICES OVERLOOKED BY FILIPINOS, ACCORDING TO DR. SHAGGIE
FLOSSING
Doc Shaggie underlined the importance of dental floss.
He said, "Dapat meron talagang nailalagay na dental floss oral care routine po natin kasi kapag hindi po nagde-dental floss, forty percent ng ating ngipin ang hindi nalilinisan.”
Flossing removes trapped food particles and plaque, ensuring comprehensive cleaning and reducing the risk of gum disease and cavities.
Sharing his experience with some patients, Doc Shaggie said, "Minsan ganito yung scenario sa clinic. ‘Doc, nagtu-toothbrush naman ako three time a day, pero bakit nasira pa rin yung ngipin ko?’
"Kasi ang nalilinisan ng tooth brush is yung mga area lang na nadadaanan nung toothbrush.
"Pero yung pagde-dental floss kasi, nalilinisan yung mga pagitan and yung sa gums.
"Yun yung mga nane-neglect natin na hindi nalilinisan, doon nagsisimula yung sira.
“Kasi hindi naman iyon pinapasukan ng bristles ng toothbrush. Doon kasi minsan nagsisimula yung caries.
"At pag hindi nagde-dental floss din po kasi, nadadamay, nasisira yung gums.
"Nagugulat na lang kayo bumababa, nagre-recede, or bumababa yung gums
Nagkakaroon na po ng sensitivity.”
TONGUE SCRAPING
Doc Shaggie also added tongue scraping as an essential step.
This practice helps remove bacteria, food particles, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue.
By doing so, it reduces bad breath, enhances taste, and promotes overall oral hygiene.
He said, “Ito I’m sure karaniwang hindi ginagawa, yung pagta-tongue scrape or cleaner.
“Yung tooth brush kasi, hindi siya, hindi niya natatanggal lahat yung kailangan tanggalin sa dila.
"Alam niyo po ba na almost ninety percent ng bad breath ay nanggagaling sa dila?
"Hindi lahat sa ngipin, ninety percent ay sa dila kasi diyan po yung maraming bacteria dumidikit.
"So kailangan po natin i-scrape po iyon para po mawala po yung dumi doon at yung amoy."
@docshaggie DENTAL FLOSS ???? #fyp @Cleanstar Dental Floss Pick ? original sound - Doc Shaggie ???????? - Doc Shaggie ????????????
DOC SHAGGIE: SWEETS ARE NOT THE ENEMY
The dentist also debunked one misconception about dental health: sweets are the teeth’s biggest enemy.
What poses the real threat is the acid produced by harmful bacteria when they digest sugar.
This acid strips minerals from tooth enamel.
Dog Shaggie told PEP.ph, “Andon po yung bacteria. So kailangan po natin mag-floss.
"Kasi po yung bacteria nagre-release po ng acid. Yung acid po na iyon ang sisira sa ating ngipin."
He further clarified, “Actually, hindi sugar ang ating kalaban, acid. Kasi nagre-release ng acid yung bacteria sa bibig po natin.
"Si acid po yung nagsisira ng ngipin.Yung mga kinakain natin, yun lang po yung nagiging energy ng bacteria.
"Pag nagkaroon ng energy si bacteria, doon nagre-relase siya ng acid.”
DOC SHAGGIE: START EARLY
Dental care is not limited to a specific age.
It's important to instill good habits early on, so children can adopt these practices as part of their routine as they grow.
He said, “Actually sa pagfo-floss ng bata walang certain age po.
"Once po na nagdikit yung ngipin, yun yung perfect time na magdedental floss yung bata.
“So magde-dental floss yung bata pag yung dalawang ngipin tumubo at nagdikit po siya.
"At dapat po gina-guide po ng magulang. Parang sa pagtu-tooth brush din po."
As a final note to everyone, Doc Shaggie reiterated the importance of these dental practices.
“Actually hindi naman natin matatanggal yung bacteria sa loob ng oral cavity natin.
"Hindi talaga, kasi milyon po ang bacteria po diyan.
"At least nababawasan po natin siya every time na nagt-toothbrush or nagde-dental routine po tayo.”
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