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Tessa! : Now, class, let’s talk about anatomy

By Tessa Prieto-ValdesColumnistInquirer

Posted date: September 24, 2006

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED about the ideal “whiteness” of your teeth? Here’s a good rule of thumb: They should only be as bright as the whites of your eyes. Any whiter and your teeth would look like dentures.

After many months of delay and decay, I finally visited my dentist, Dr. Pio Tripon (2/F Tesoro Building., Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, tel. 8923249), who gave me an informative lecture on tooth decay while I was having some cavities filled. Doctor Tripon has some newfangled, amazing dental equipment that can photograph and zoom in on the areas of decay in the teeth.

I never knew that tooth decay is actually a contagious bacterial disease. I was shocked to find out that a high percentage of decay is due to infection being passed down—from simple things like sharing drinking glasses or utensils or by kissing. Most of us can probably give up the first two but not the last! In fact, since I can’t avoid the last item with my husband, I will just have to make sure his teeth are germ-free.

In the world of dentistry, the advancement of technology has been quite remarkable. My sister, Sandy Romualdez, and I have hilarious memories of my mother’s dentist in Escolta. His pasta tasted like cement and his metal, manually adjusted, dental chair was attached to an irritating, screeching drilling unit. No wonder our collective memories of dentists are so bad—a visit to the dentist was akin to a trip to a torture chamber!

Not anymore! These days, there is soothing music and a chair that has more functions than the space shuttle.

According to Tripon’s space-age dental equipment, my Decay Risk Level is medium-risk with cavity-prone areas. In short, no more midnight snacking of chocolates, chips and other desserts. He suggested chewing gum or mints containing Xylitol, a natural sugar from birch trees that has significant effects against decay-causing bacteria.

I’m a sucker for new products, so I rushed out to buy some Orbit sugar-free gum to start my battle with decay and have my teeth heal on their own, all while still getting to snack on demand.

Eyes
There’s really nothing like good health. So it’s not only my teeth that have been occupying my time lately. My eyes were part of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines’ campaign called “Tears of Hope, Tears of Health.”

With the support of Visine Refresh and PowerBooks, Dr. Minguita Padilla, founder and chair of Eye Bank, produced a book of all the exquisite photos taken by top lensman Jun de Leon.
My particular photograph was taken when I was still heavy and pregnant with Athena, but Jun, being the master of beauty through the camera, made me look smashing.

The book is now available in PowerBooks and National Bookstore, and by purchasing the “Behind the Tears” book, you would be supporting the sight restoration programs of the Eye Bank.

To all my friends reading this, you may already have an idea what your Christmas gift this year will be.

Breasts
This column is sort of an anatomy class, because from teeth and eyes, now I can move on to my breasts. Both took center stage earlier this month for the Beauty, Brains & Breastfeeding Campaign of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

Since I was breastfeeding earlier this year, my baby Athena and I had a photo session with outstanding photographer Pancho Escaler for this advocacy. Little did I know that my photo would be chosen for all the posters and campaign materials.

For the whole month of September, the largest mall in this part of the world, Mall of Asia, has a photo exhibit of mothers and personalities who truly believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thanks to Pancho’s expert lens angling, my breasts maintain a G rating. Athena’s cute mouth and hand perfectly conceal the naughty bits while still projecting the breastfeeding message.

The pictures are so huge that not even famed body sculptor Dr. Vicki Belo can augment me that well!

Recently, gracious host Vicki told me all about the possibilities of beauty enhancement over a dinner for the benefit of cancer-stricken Benjo Marquez. She opened her house to generous friends like Hotel Elizabeth owner Beth Fernando and made sure all enjoyed the dinner menu by master chefs Ed Quimson and Heny Sison.

Vicki and I discussed the theory that having fat removed from the back shoulder area may cause the breast to become larger, as body fat moves from one area to another. Let’s call this the “40-something But Still Hoping” Theory.

Speaking of which, that’s a perfect segue to another short paragraph on my Assumption Velada. Vicki is one of my big-hearted friends who are supporting the Assumption Mission Schools. I guess with all the weight the jubilarians are losing from homecoming practices, we are now firmly in Vicki’s target market.

Stomach
Continuing our anatomy lesson, let’s not forget the stomach! Makati Shang’s executive chef Christopher Romine pulled all the stops at a birthday dinner for me at their classic Red restaurant.

Rustan’s soon-to-wed Rhoda Campos prepared games and giveaways and I threw in special “non-party” giveaways from my fave graphics couple, Mye and Norman Cruz of adworksgrfx (www.adworksgrfx.com.ph, tel. 6880085).

While going through chef Romine’s range of delightful dishes, Shang’s new, dashing VP and GM, Philippe Caretti, told me about their new Filipino High Tea at the Lobby Lounge. An interesting twist is some of the dishes are very Pinoy like bibingka. The ongoing festivities overlook a garden with newly installed whimsical sculptures by Claude Tayag.

Feet
Today’s body tour ends with my feet, which got ample use while dancing at Embassy after the BMW launch of their new and bold colors for the 1 Series and 3 Series Limited Edition models. Well-loved designer Rajo Laurel designed the models’ black, white and red gowns to match the cars’ striking colors.

These cars are such wonderful, foot-activated instruments, really! Just the sort of thing one can truly enjoy driving around while flashing a big, white, toothy, Xylitol-enhanced grin after a tummy-filling Filipino High Tea at the Shang.

E-mail me at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 11:13 AM