Everybody knows that February is the month of love, but did you know that it’s also Oral Health Month? Starting out as National Dental Health Week back in 1951 and expanding into a month-long celebration by 2004, Oral Health Month’s goal is to encourage the public to take care of their oral health, as well as urge those in the dental services sector to reach out to communities with limited access to dental care.[1]
This year is a little different. Because of the pandemic, many individuals are not able to visit their dentist as regularly as before. That is why this year’s Oral Health Month theme is “Brushing is a Must, Kahit Naka-Mask”, to reiterate the importance of oral health, especially during a time when face-to-face dental services and check-ups are difficult to avail.
Proper brushing is one of the best ways to keep your mouth healthy, but you can always go one step further by knowing the signs of an unhealthy mouth, and doing what you can to prevent it. One such sign is mouth ulcers or canker sores, better known colloquially as singaw.
Singaw is a very common mouth problem, and everyone should have experienced singaw at one point in their lives.[2] It is caused by a great number of things, such as injuries to the mouth like accidental bites or abrasions due to dental braces. It can also be a sign that your body lacks some necessary vitamins, especially B-12, zinc, folate and iron. Finally, singaw can also be an indicator of stress, or bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.[3]
Because singaw might be an indicator of poor health, one of the best ways to avoid it is to live a healthy lifestyle. Consuming food rich in vitamins and minerals, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and getting enough rest and sleep can help lessen occurrences of singaw.[4]
If you already have singaw, and want to treat it so you can get your oral health back on track, investing in good over-the-counter medication is a viable solution. Rowagel is a topical oral gel that contains Carbenoxolone, a derivative of Glycyrrhizinic acid or Licorice root extract, which is proven to have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. It is FDA-approved and used in the treatment of mouth and lip sores.[5]
Oral health is not limited to simply brushing your teeth. It also means taking care of yourself holistically - eating the right kinds of food, avoiding the wrong kinds of things, and using medication that is best suited for you, so you can keep your mouth as healthy as can be.
Rowagel topical oral anti-ulcer gel is distributed exclusively by New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation (NMPC) and is available in drugstores nationwide. The gel is for topical use only and for adults and children over 3 years old. To know more about Rowagel, visit www.nmpc.com.ph or check out NMPC’s LEAP website.
[1] https://www.dilg.gov.ph/events/Philippine-Dental-Health-Month/545
[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/mouth-sores
[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/mouth-ulcers#causes
[4] https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/mouth-sores-and-infections/how-to-prevent-canker-sores
[5] https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/canker-sores