Preventive Dentistry Essential Worldwide Published Dec. 12, 2012 By Maj. William Robinson 59th Dental Group JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- As Americans, we often take for granted the simple luxuries we are fortunate to have not readily available around the world. Our country affords us access to clean running water and bathrooms inside our homes. Imagine for a second not having clean water or running water in the comfort of your own home. Then, imagine if the tools and knowledge for a simple task such as cleaning one's teeth were nonexistent. As an active duty Air Force dentist, I had the opportunity to visit regions of Southeast Asia to treat dental disease and provide dental care to individuals in need. During a five month humanitarian deployment aboard the United States Navy Ship Mercy, I had the chance to witness firsthand how impoverished countries viewed their oral health as compared to our own. Our mission consisted of assisting other countries in providing civic and humanitarian dental care to as many people as possible. During our tour, we visited remote regions of Southeast Asia, which included Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. Some of these areas were inaccessible by road and the only way to get there was by helicopter. Interestingly, most villagers did have access to refined sugar products such as soda, candy and pastries. Children and adults alike consumed these items in large quantities. The majority of the American population is aware these types of products can result in tooth decay. Unfortunately, the counties we visited were not as informed of the detrimental effects refined sugars have on oral health or how to avert a preventable disease like tooth decay. Dental decay is a disease of epidemic proportions in these countries. Generally, the population does not have the knowledge of why or how to use a toothbrush, and if they did, there were virtually none available. Additionally, the practice of flossing was also very rare or even non-existent. Suffice it to say, the majority in these small, secluded sites had generalized moderate to severely rampant tooth decay. Although many teeth had to be removed due to tooth decay and infection, we took the opportunity to invest time and resources in educating the public in preventive dental practices to reduce tooth decay. Instructions were given on oral home care, which included demonstrations of proper brushing and flossing techniques. Throughout the course of this deployment, well over 10,000 patients were given individual and group oral hygiene instructions. Sharing our dental knowledge with these populations was an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. It was wonderful seeing patients understand the reasons for tooth decay and how to prevent it. We made friends in many different countries, and most were exceedingly appreciative of the knowledge that they gained regarding their oral health. Hopefully our efforts influenced good healthy habits for many generations to come. Bottom line, good oral health starts with prevention, and is the key component in reducing dental disease of the teeth and gums no matter where one lives. We live in a country that affords us the luxury of making simple everyday tasks easier to accomplish. In spite of how busy our lives may become, remember it only takes a few minutes a day to keep those pearly whites sparkling.