About 80 million Filipinos suffer from tooth decay, ranking the country among the highest globally for dental caries, according to the National Survey on Oral Health (NSOH).

Additionally, 54 million Filipinos are affected by gum problems, a leading cause of tooth loss, with the average 70-year-old having only seven teeth remaining, the World Health Organization noted.

Several factors contribute to the nation’s oral health challenges. One is accessibility, with the Philippines having a low dentist-to-population ratio — 60 percent of dentists are concentrated in Manila, leaving many areas in the country lacking adequate dental care.

Other factors include limited insurance, as many Filipinos consider dental care “inaccessible,” and a lack of awareness of proper brushing techniques and mouth rinse use.

Further, Philippine Statistics Authority data revealed that the average Filipino consumes over 13 tablespoons of sugar daily — nearly triple the recommended amount.

Alarmingly, 50 percent of Filipinos visit a dentist only when they experience oral health problems.

To address this, health company Kenvue Philippines has partnered with the Department of Health (DoH) and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines to promote better oral care, supporting the agency’s Ngiting 70:20 program, which aims to help Filipinos retain at least 20 teeth by age 70.

To further bridge the gap, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. last year approved a preventive oral health benefit package for every Filipino.

The package will cover annual routine preventive oral care, including mouth examinations, oral screenings, oral prophylaxis (cleaning), and fluoride varnish application.

It will also include pit and fissure sealants, Class V procedures (for a maximum of two teeth), emergency tooth extractions, and dental consultations.

A maximum payment of P1,000 for preventive oral health services is allotted for each patient yearly. Of this amount, P300 will be paid for the first visit, covering a mouth examination, oral prophylaxis, and fluoride varnish application.

Another P300 will be paid for the second visit, which must be at least four months apart from the first visit, for the same services.

The remaining amount will be used to cover pit and fissure sealants or a Class V procedure, with a maximum of two teeth per year at P200 each.

Meanwhile, private dentists will be allowed a maximum copayment charge per visit of P1,500 for a mouth examination and oral prophylaxis, and P600 for either a pit and fissure sealant, Class V procedure, or emergency tooth extraction.