It’s alarming to know that 9 out of 10 Filipino kids suffer from cavities. Cavities are tiny holes in teeth caused by bacteria, which when left unchecked, decay teeth. Sadly, Gabbie is part of the statistics as she has milk cavities. She likes brushing her teeth, but she still drinks milk at night and would fall asleep with her bottle. Despite the brushing we do in the mornings, bateria build up at night has left her with milk cavities, evident on her upper incisors and canines. I know we could’ve been more vigilant but disrupting her sleep to brush her teeth leads to a cry fest which we dread and avoid.
Thankfully, her milk cavities haven’t progressed and we’re more keen on taking good care of her teeth until they fall off. She has learned that in order to have nice teeth and enjoy the food she eats, she would really have to brush her teeth after every milk time at night even if she’s so sleepy.
In time for Oral Health Month, we were invited by Colgate last Februray 16, 2014 at the SM Mall Of Asia, in partnership with PDA (Philippine Dental Association) together with Watsons, to learn more and find ways to improve oral health in the Philippines.
Aminin, it is not common practice for us Filipinos to visit our dentist at least once every year. Some even don’t have a dentist and would just go when they need to. With this mindset, we should really practice good oral hygiene and this should start at home. That’s why Colgate aims to help parents teach their children the value of brushing and visiting the dentist. After all, prevention is always better than cure, not to mention less expensive too!
According to Dr. Andy Fernandez, President of Philippine Dental Association, poor oral hygiene can also lead to diseases like gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or periodontitis (disease of the gum and bones that support teeth) which then leads to tooth loss. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a lot of problems affecting the gums, teeth and mouth. Many of these problems can be avoided by simply improving one’s oral hygiene habits such as brushing teeth three times a day, flossing and using a mouthwash regularly.
Mr. Antonio Caro, General Manager of Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, mentioned that Oral Health Month is a month-long celebration, where Colgate and PDA visit barangays nationwide to help these isolated and far-flung communities gain access to dental check-ups and Colgate products.
Lucky for us living in the metro, Colgate set up a weekend affair where we can learn a lot about good oral hygiene through fun-filled activities for both parents and kids to enjoy.
How do you know bacteria is building up?
With the use of a black light, flash it to your mouth to check if there’s a vibrant redness on your teeth and gums. As you can see in the photo above, the left part of the upper gums is more brighter, that’s what bacteria build up looks like.
They also had tons of giveaways- complete 4 stamps by visiting at least 4 different booths to get a raffle stub for a chance to win prizes.
There was also a booth where you can get free dental check ups that provide consultation and assessment of your teeth.
A fun way to teach your children about brushing teeth. This interactive play lets you catch and brush away cavities with Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection.
Another fun activity we did was capturing unwanted plaque.
Did you know that by gargling mouth wash, you get rid of plaque (formed by bacteria) which causes bad breath?
Here’s Gabbie & Berry posing happily after they defeated the army of plaque!
For those like me who have sensitive teeth, eating and drinking something hot, cold or sweet is such a hassle. That sharp shooting pain always gets in the way of enjoying the food we eat right? That’s why I always make sure I have a tube of Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief. It has saved me from a lot of pain and effectively relieves my sensitive teeth. I usually brush beforehand, especially when I know I’m eating my favorite- sweets!
Now here’s for all the kids to love! Colgate Barbie & Spiderman character toothpastes and toothbrushes have a new look. 
Colgate Barbie toothbrush and toothpaste for the girls. OMG, Gabbie shrieked upon seeing this! 
Colgate Spiderman toothpaste and toothbrush for the boys.
Currently my kids use Colgate Spongebob, but upon seeing these, I think we’ll have Barbie and Spiderman as part of our brushing buddies.
For those who have sensitive gums, I recommend Colgate Slim Soft toothbrush. They’re soft so it won’t irritate your gums but at the same time they have slim bristles that can effectively clean between teeth and gums. I love that is has a charcoal variety, where it can clean 6x deeper.
Those who bought Colgate Slim Soft Charcoal from Watsons got to have it engraved for free.
Your name and the date when the toothbrush must be replaced are both engraved on the side of Colgate Slim Soft Charcoal.
Dr. Rabbit and the Tooth Defenders ready to catch cavities and brush away plaque!
Gabbie & Berry as the Tooth Defenders!
The kids had so much fun watching Dr. Rabbit and the Tooth Defenders fight the bacteria by brushing with Colgate.
The girls with Dr. Rabbit.
Solenn Heussaff graced the event and read a story to the kids.
The girls had so much fun learning the importance of good oral hygiene. Gabbie was pretty ecstatic and eager to buy and try Colgate Barbie toothpaste and toothbrush .
Thank you Colgate for providing a complete range of products that are designed to promote and maintain good oral health. Let’s all aim for zero cavities!
Nice dress Gabbie!