Children who use sand to clean their teeth receive help from GMA Kapuso Foundation

Over 1,000 children in Camarines Norte and Samar received help from GMA Kapuso Foundation’s "Linis Lusog Kapusong Kabataan" project.

According to “24 Oras,” Tuesday, this includes the children of the Dela Peña family.

Instead of fishing or mining for gold, Gerly and her children go to a creek in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte to pick up sand they use to clean their teeth.

“‘Yung nanay ko, ‘yun ang ginagamit maliit pa kami. Naglilinis ng ngipin ‘yung buhangin, tapos ginagaya namin. Tinuturuan ko rin ‘yung magkapatid na ‘yan. Pumuputi ‘yung ngipin at tsaka nawawala ‘yung mga dumi sa ngipin,” Gerly said.

[My mother used to do that when we were young. She would clean her teeth with sand, and we would imitate her. I also teach my children. Our teeth became whiter and the dirt on our teeth disappears.]

Because of their status in life, they cannot afford to buy toothpaste.

To help, GMA Kapuso Foundation, through the “Linis Lusog Kapusong Kabataan” project, offered free dental checkups, tooth extractions, and fluoride varnish applications to the students in Jose Panganiban.

They also received gift packs that include food, toys, and hygiene kits.

“Hindi po natin sigurado na ang buhangin na nakukuha natin sa tabi ng ilog kasi pwedeng magkaroon ng bacteria na nagiging sanhi ng infection katulad ng UTI, endocarditis, intra-abdominal infection, at meningitis,” Dr. Natividad Machica said.

[We are not sure about the sand we get from the riverbank because it could contain bacteria that can lead to infections like UTI, endocarditis, intra-abdominal infection, and meningitis.]

In Marabut, Samar, the foundation also taught students proper hand washing and brushing of teeth.

“Maraming salamat po sa Kapuso Foundation dahil natulungan po ninyo kami kahit na malayo po dito sa aming tribo,” Rona Lamarid said.

[Thank you very much to the Kapuso Foundation because you have helped us even though our tribe is in a far-flung area.]

For those who are interested to help, GMA Kapuso Foundation is accepting donations through bank deposits, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Shopee, PayMaya, Zalora, MegaMart, Globe Rewards, Metrobank credit card, and Lazada.

For more information, visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website.

—Carby Basina/CACM, GMA Integrated News