Mommy Pehpot, Author at Mommy Pehpot

3 Facts About Dengue Fever That You Should Know

I already mentioned once why I am so paranoid with dengue fever. We lost a love one (husband’s nephew) 3 years ago from dengue. Anything about dengue, my blog is open. So when I received an invite for a dengue fever management event, I have to attend, even if it means braving Makati (and the traffic) on FRIDAY!. It was all worth it. Anything to help raise awareness about dengue and dengue fever.

I was planning to write a lengthy article about dengue, but I did that na pala a few years back. In the spirit of list blogging (and for easy understanding and faster writing haha), I present to you FACTS about Dengue Fever that You Should Know.

1. Things you should know about Aedes aegypti:

Aedes aegypti is a striped mosquito (see photo above) and though usually known to bite at dusk and dawn, they can bite and spread the infection at anytime of the day, all year round.
Aedes aegypti life span is only 4 weeks but their egg can last for more than a year, even on dry land.
Aedes aegypti can transmits the virus by biting an infected person then biting another but it will take 8 days after the bite before they can transmit the virus.

2. Things you should know about Dengue Fever:

Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti
There are 4 types of dengue virus and being infected once does not give you immunity to this virus. A person can get infected 4x but from Dr. Gatchalian mentioned that if you got infected twice, there is little chance of being infected again.
Dengue fever can be cured but if left untreated, it can lead to death.
The only way to treat it is to manage the fever (and water therapy). The only fever management medicine for dengue is PARACETAMOL.

When dengue fever is suspected, go to the nearest health center or hospital for diagnosis and treatment.

3. What we can do to prevent dengue?

Search and Destroy. Search for stagnant water around your house since this is where Aedes aegypti breed. Destroy all the breeding grounds to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Self protection measures such as wearing longer clothes and applying insect repellent products.
Seek early consultaion when there is fever for more than 2 days.
Say NO to indiscriminate fogging. Fogging will only drive mosquitoes away, only say YES to fogging during outbreaks.

BONUS: Help save lives by spreading awareness about Dengue Fever, how to manage it and how to prevent it.

10 Interesting Facts About Dental Care (And Some Tips On How To Take Care Of Your Teeth)

It’s the D day again. I’m sweating. I’m nervous. Wait. Can we cancel this appointment? Pwede next week na lang? Or wag na lang kaya?
Wait. This is dental filling, why am I so scared? OK, let’s get it on.. WAIT!! I can’t seat on that chair. I am going to dieeeee

So that is me, from my last trip to the dentist. I do not know why, but I am still not comfortable going the dentist. To think, I have been going ALONE to the dentist since I was 10 (or even younger). The feeling is still the same, anticipating the pain.. is it really painful? Not that much naman di ba? Well, obviously, I was not raised with a strict dental care.. so I promised myself that I will be very vigilant with regards to my kids’ teeth. I don’t want them to feel the same fear I had when going to the dentist.

I FAILED! BIG TIME!

Turns out, I know nothing about dental care, except for the fact that you need to brush your teeth 3x a day.

So, I am saving you from the heartache of watching your son/ daughter suffer a toothache. I present to you:

10 Interesting Facts About Dental Care (And Some Tips On How To Take Care Of Your Teeth)

1. When to start DENTAL CARE? Proper dental care should begin even before the first tooth appears. How? Use a damp cloth to clean your baby’s gum. When the first tooth appears, use a smear of toothpaste and water until they are about 2 years, by that time, they already know how to spit. Use pea sized amount of toothpaste from 2- 5 years old.

2. Take care of the milk teeth. Milk teeth serve as permanent teeth guide. If milk teeth decays earlier than it should be, the permanent teeth will have a hard time finding its point of eruption. That’s the usual cause of Malocclusion of teeth (sungki).

3. Permanent tooth erupts as early as 6 years old. This is my BIGGEST failure. I was not informed!!

Save that image above (image source here) for your child’s safety.

See? First molar erupts as early as 6 years old. And we do not know that, so we end up with a son who’s first molar is so damaged, the dentist had to extract it.

4. Use toothpaste with Fluoride. Here’s the guide in choosing the right toothpaste for your kids:

5. How Fluoride works?

Using a toothpaste with fluoride, specially when teeth are growing, helps in prevention of cavities and tooth decay. The fluoride mixes with the enamel (hard covering of our teeth) making the teeth stronger. Fluoride also helps after teeth are formed, it works with our saliva in protecting the enamel.

6. Here’s something that will blow your mind: Tooth Decay is infectious (it is caused by Streptococcus mutans bacteria) and babies below 9 months old get the infection from their moms. Remember that time when our babies were small and we have to “blow” whatever hot food we feed them? What we do not know was through that blowing, the bacteria is transferred in their food and to their mouth. So just imagine if you share utensils and more so if it is the yaya!)

7. Chew a gum to prevent tooth decay. But not just ordinary gum, chew Lotte XYLITOL.

Lotte Xylitol is a sugar-free gum with over 50% xylitol as a sugar substitute. Xylitol is a 100% natural sweetener and reduces the growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria. cavity- causing

How does Lotte Xylitol Dental Health Gum prevent tooth decay?
• It’s a sugar-free gum with over 50% xylitol as a sugar substitute
• Reduces cavity-causing bacteria that feed on sugar and create acids that dissolve tooth enamel resulting in tooth decay
• Promotes saliva flow to maintain healthy pH levels in the mouth to prevent demineralization of tooth enamel
• Removes particles of food that may be left behind which can cause tooth decay or bad breath
• Helps remove stubborn tartar on teeth surfaces through the chewing action of the gum
• Promotes remineralization or rebuilding of the teeth enamel thru the presence of calcium phosphates and by promoting saliva production

The Complete Dental Health Habit with Lotte Xylitol
• Eating a well-balanced diet
• Brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Flossing after brushing
• Visiting the dentist regularly
• Chewing on Lotte Xylitol Dental Health Gum (2 pellets, 4 to 5 times daily)

Lotte Xylitol comes in 4 exciting flavors : Blueberry Mint, Fresh Mint, Lime Mint, Strawberry.

8. Did you know that 9 out of 10 children in the Philippines suffer from tooth decay? And as mentioned above, kids can also get it from their mommies. So mommies, to prevent the passing of tooth decay causing bacteria, take care of your mouth and teeth too, use Xylitol together with your kids.

Interesting facts are trivial!

9. Dr. Fina Lopez (from the Xylitol event I attended) told us that when brushing your teeth (Fluoride toothpaste of course), do not spit out the toothpaste so that fluoride will stay in your teeth. We already know how fluoride works right?

10. Still from the Xylitol event, Dr. Fina Lopez also mentioned that (she gave the lecture about dental health and how tooth decay is formed) cookies is more damaging to teeth than chocolates. WHAT???

Tooth decay is formed when cavity-causing bacteria that feed on sugar creates acids that dissolve tooth enamel. When you eat cookies, cookie crumbles are left in between your teeth. Cookies are sugar and tooth decay causing bacteria will feed on it! Of course, both chocolates and cookies can damage teeth if you let it stay on your teeth. So brush your teeth every time you eat sweets!

Kanlungan Ni Maria Visit With Jollibee

Pahinga muna ako sa list blogging (bukas na ulet haha).. let me share my experience during our visit sa mga lolo at lola ng Kanlungan ni Maria.

Kanlungan ni Maria – Home for the Aged Inc. is a residential institution that aims to provide its residents with a family and home environment wherein they could live better and dignified life. While in the home, the staff and volunteers provides them with love, care, attention and maintain their daily needs. The institution will help in locating those residents with missing families and relatives for the purpose of reconciliation. In case no family member can be traced a long-term placement in the home will be provided to them.

I really enjoy the time I spent with the lolo and lola of Kanlungan ni Maria. It’s a joy sharing moments with our seniors, learning from their stories.

Tatay Cris, one of the residents, told me that each part of our body has a purpose. And through his stories, he gave me the impression that serving your family is the best thing that any of us can experience.

It was Grandparents’ Day weekend when we visited Kanlungan ni Maria and the event held there was part of Jollibee’s tribute to our lolo and lola.

I am a lola’s girl, you know. Siguro that’s one of the reason why I enjoyed my stay there, it reminds me so much of Nanay Oya and how she took care of me and taught me a lot of things. #sentimode lang poe.

Here are some photos I took during the event: