Mobile dental clinic fights cavities
With a fondness for sugar and sweets almost unequalled anywhere on the planet, Belizeans are prime targets for tooth decay. But today I had the opportunity to witness the unveiling of the latest weapon in the fight against cavities.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
According to local health authorities, on average, every day five Belizeans are unable to do their work because of severe toothaches and other dental problems.
Dr. Carl Meggs, Senior Dental Surgeon
“We actually did a survey last year where you had on average for the month, over a hundred hours that is lost from school time and work time directly related to tooth decay, abscess, any kind of oral disease.”
To combat cavity city, the education and health ministries have teamed up with Colgate to launch the Bright Smiles; Bright Future program in Belize. And every month, dentists will hit the road in a mobile unit to serve the public in different parts of the country.
Through the program, every six months Belizean school children will get a free toothbrush and toothpaste and the necessary instruction, to properly take care of their teeth. But the experts say the parents have to do their part as well.
Dr. Carl Meggs
“You can see children around two to three years old where all their front teeth are decayed. This is a very, very big problem. And most parents don’t seem to realize what the baby is looking for is comfort, which means you can give them a bottle with just water in it, and that will put them to sleep and that will suffice, it’s necessary because they are hungry.”
And an adult craving you might not expect can also hurt your child’s dental health.
Dr. Carl Meggs
“The most recent reports that came out having to do with second hand smoking. That for example, lowers the immune system of the children, babies, up to five years old. And by lowering the immune system, you automatically lower the resistance to oral organisms which cause tooth decay and gum disease.”
Keisha Cardoza, Brand Mgr., Colgate Palmolive Jamaica Ltd.
“We continue to develop like kid’s toothpaste and toothbrushes. And one of the things we have been trying to do is to develop, is to use variants that are more attractive. So we’ll use cartoon characters, and we’ll call it like Barney Bubble Fruit or we’ll use the Looney Toones characters just to get the children more interested, to get them to want to brush their teeth.”
Dr. Carl Meggs
“I’m giving it up to four years that our survey will show a tremendous decrease, because now we’ll be seeing the children on a daily basis rather than just when you have pain.”
Belize is the eighty-first country to participate in Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Future program.
