UP Dental Alumni Association (UPDAA) in partnership with global oral care brand Oral-B launched a program that aims to bring back the healthy smiles of Filipinos. Pinoys are known for their warmth and smile. I remember one foreign journalist reported that despite the calamities, disasters that we went through (when he was here), we Filipinos were hospitable and laging may ngiti sa ating mga labi. But there's an alarming results of study that revealed 9 out of 10 Filipinos suffer from dental caries and worse, the Philippines has the 2nd worst rate of decayed, missing and filled teeth in all of Asia. Yikes!
So I think the new project of Oral-B and UPDAA is very apt as they launched Smile Pilipinas. It aims to uplift the deteriorating state of oral health in the country.
Our lack of oral hygiene speaks how we take care of ourselves. We sometimes blame poor hygiene with our lack of money, expensive toothpaste, etc. And I'm glad that project such as this will help spread inspiration for better oral health.
During the launch which coincided with the centennial celebration of UP College of Dentistry (UPCD) and spearheaded by UPDAA, the three focus areas of the program were presented, namely, Advocacy, Public Good and Fund Raising.
Top actress and Oral-B brand ambassador Iza Calzado, who graced the launch of Smile Pilipinas thanks both partners and echoed the concern over the country's deteriorating oral health condition. "Let's not take this important aspect of our health for granted. As our oral health professionals have repeatedly said, Oral health is a vital part of over-all health. It's part of our personality, our heritage as a Filipino. Let's maintain the warmth and beauty of our smiles by learning how to care for our mouth, gums and teeth."
Happy Centennial UPDAA!
Can't leave the event without a pic with Iza Calzado. She's very pretty in person and really has a genuine smile. We learned that she's very conscious with her teeth and she also shared her ways of how she takes care of her teeth. Kahit gaano pa sya ka-busy, she'll make time to brush her teeth right after eating.
And with the country's top oral health professionals joined by the world's leading oral care brand in launching Smile Pilipinas, there may yet be hope for the state of oral health in the country as long as we all work together.
