For many of us, many of the more fortunate, careful oral hygiene is a part of our daily routine and it's difficult to imagine that some people live their lives without even owning a toothbrush. Despite significant achievements in oral health, poverty-stricken, under-privileged groups in both developed and developing countries still have limited access to health services. Remember this next time you decide to skip brushing your teeth before bed or you chicken out from your regular appointment at the dentist.
Aesthetic dentist Felipe Rossi has been literally bringing healthy and bright smiles to people's faces. Rossi has been traveling with volunteers across low-income communities, mostly in Brazil and East Africa, and has provided vital dental care for hundreds of people free of charge.
NGOs like Por1sorriso face many struggles while following their mission as they have to rely on sponsorship and fundraising to keep going. But Rossi is receiving a lot of support as he has been sharing his journey along with before-and-after pictures of his patients on his Instagram. With over 200k followers on his personal Instagram account and another 114k following Por1sorriso's page, Felipe Rossi is one of the most famous doctors for all the right reasons.
According to The Global Burden of Disease Study, oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people worldwide. With caries or tooth decay being the most common disease, it is estimated that 2.3 billion people suffer from caries of permanent teeth and more than 530 million children suffer from caries of primary teeth. Dental treatments are among the most costly services, averaging 20% of out-of-pocket health expenditure in most high-income countries. There is an evident correlation between oral diseases and socioeconomic status, so the burden falls on those disadvantaged the most.
Oral issues and diseases have a major impact on quality of life―many struggle with consuming food and have to deal with constant pain and suffering. We can all agree that dental pain is some of the worst that exists! Teeth left untreated result in further problems and discomfort, as well as eventual and often premature tooth loss. A smile is often what people notice first in a person, so the change in appearance might cause severe psychological struggles such as low self-esteem.
These heartwarming transformations show how the doctor's work not only changes their smiles, but their lives as well. A nice smile can make a huge difference in appearance, but also affect a person's confidence―most of these people look much younger and their happiness just shines through!
