GOOD NUTRITION FOR A GOOD SMILE

“You are what you eat”- is a well-known adage that all of us would have heard a thousand times, but the least heard adage is “your smile is also what you eat”!  Like in general health, the food that we eat and the liquid that we drink plays a major role in good dental health. The oral cavity (the teeth and the gums), like other parts of the body, also require nourishment – energy and nutrients for health and maintenance. The food we eat affects our teeth. At the same time, the health or lack of health of our teeth and gums affects what we can eat. Good dental health begins early in life and must be practiced throughout life.

Healthy Diet leads to Healthy teeth and gums

A well-balanced diet which includes water provides energy, nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins) and minerals, essential for healthy teeth and gums as well as for rest of the body. When one gets all the nutrients that meet the daily needs, then he/she gets good nutrition and good nutrition is the fundamental requirement for positive health and functional efficiency. Good nutrition is possible throughout the life cycle only through healthy diet – a balanced diet. Balanced diet is made of foods selected from all food groups such as cereals, pulses, nuts, fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products, oil, meat, poultry and fish.

Composition of balanced diet that is the requirement of the food items from each of these food groups varies with age, gender and health, physiological status and physical activity level of the individual.

Development and integrity of oral tissues and structures

Good nutrition is essential to the initial growth and development of oral tissues. Tooth development begins shortly after conception, usually between the sixth and eighth weeks of gestation and continues throughout pregnancy. The most important long-term factor affecting the health of teeth and gums is nutrition, from the womb onward.

Malnutrition during periods of tooth development can have irreversible effects on the developing oral structures. Nutritional deficiencies can impair tissue regeneration and healing and can increase susceptibility to oral infections. Vitamin C deficiency will result in bleeding gums, Calcium deficiency would affect bones supporting the teeth, B-complex deficiencies will affect overall oral health with cracks in the lips and sores on the tongue or  inner mouth, Vitamin A deficiency would affect the cell integrity and Nutrients are interdependent – they cannot work in isolation.

Nutrients for Oral health:

Nutrients which maintain the bones and the muscles of the body are also accountable for maintaining the gums and teeth. These includes calcium and phosphorus, protein, magnesium, fluoride, zinc, copper, iron, selenium and vitamins D, A, C, K and folate.  Other nutrients that influence normal bone metabolism are energy, fat, carbohydrates and fibre intake, and the electrolytes, sodium and potassium and the remaining 32 odd nutrients!! The nutrients essential for general health do not function in isolation and all work together to keep one’s body strong and healthy lifelong.

Process of Tooth decay / Dental Caries:

Dental caries commonly occurs on the chewing surface or the inter-dental surfaces in posterior teeth. The chewing surfaces of these teeth are wide with pits and fissures for easy retention of food debris and microbes. The bacteria present in oral cavity form an invisible layer of plaque. The plaque is mainly composed of bacteria, salivary proteins, few cells and some bacterial products. When the food remnants, especially carbohydrates, come in contact with the bacteria in the plaque, fermentation begins, resulting in dissolution of tooth surface and dental caries.

Untreated dental caries can result in pain and subsequent tooth loss, which may lead to malnutrition or abnormal digestion, since these conditions often prevent a person from chewing and eating adequate amounts of food as well as eating some hard, high-fibre foods. Additionally, many diseases such as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, may exacerbate these conditions leading to poor oral health.

Factors causing tooth decay:

The food we eat and the beverages we drink can have a direct influence on the incidence and progression of tooth decay, depending upon:

• The form and consistency of food.
• Duration of exposure of teeth to food.
• Frequency : How often these are used –

o    sugary / acidic foods / beverages

• The combination of foods and the order (sequence) of eating.
• Medical conditions such as gastrointestinal reflux and eating disorders, which can increase risk of cavities and weaken teeth.

Food form determines the duration of exposure or retention time of a food in the mouth, which in turn affects how long the acid-producing activity will last.  Liquids are rapidly cleared from the mouth and have low adherence (or retentiveness) capabilities.  Solid foods such as crackers, chips, dry cereals, and cookies can stick between the teeth (referred to as the interproximal spaces) and have high adherence or retention capability which results in prolonged sugar exposure in the mouth.

Consistency also effects adherence.  Chewy foods stimulate saliva production and have a lower adherence potential than solid, sticky foods such as pretzels, bagels, or bananas.

Sugar is the part of the triad that leads to tooth decay, the other two factors being acid forming bacteria harbouring the mouth and the susceptible tooth. Every time a person eats sweet food, mouth bacteria have an unlimited food supply and begin to produce acid that attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more.  Saliva eventually neutralizes these acids and repairs tooth enamel.  

The amount of sugar present in the mouth plays a critical role in the process, so also the time. Longer the period sugar stays in the mouth, more damage to the teeth will occur. Day-long sipping of sugar-containing drinks exposes one’s teeth to constant sugar and, in turn, constant decay-causing acids.

Dental nutrition also involves a certain sense of timing. To prevent cavities and maintain good oral health, the diet – what one eats and how often one eats, are important factors. More frequent meals mean more risk for the tooth!  Saliva production is slowed down if one eats constantly, so there will not be enough in the mouth to neutralize the bacteria and prevent the damage.

Eating sequence and combination of foods also affect the caries potential of the substrate. Bananas, which are cariogenic because of their fermentable carbohydrate content and adherence capability, have less potential to contribute to decay when eaten with cereal and milk than when eaten alone as a snack.  Milk, as a liquid, reduces the adherence capability of the fruit. 

Factors preventing tooth decay:

·         Saliva

·         Water

·         Sequence of eating

Saliva decreases mouth acidity and washes away food particles. Saliva eventually neutralizes the acids and repairs tooth enamel. The food eaten should stimulate the gums, increase saliva flow and reduce the build-up of cavity-causing bacteria. Crunchy and chewy foods, such as carrots, celery, cucumber, popcorn, and nuts, cause saliva to flow. Foods that require a lot of chewing stimulate saliva flow, and saliva protects the teeth by cleaning them, neutralizing acid, and inhibiting harmful bacteria. Saliva flow slows during sleep; going to bed without brushing the teeth is especially harmful.

Good dental nutrition also calls for healthy water intake. Saliva production depends on hydration. Saliva production goes down if one does not drink enough water. A chronically dry mouth also contributes to decay. Good dental nutrition demands the plentiful intake of healthy water.  

Starches (cereals, potatoes etc.) and sweets should be combined when possible.  This will stimulate saliva production.  Dessert should therefore be eaten prior to a meal, never sometime afterwards. Cheese or milk at the end of the meal decreases the carcinogenicity (caries causing effect) of the meal.

Tips to preserve oral health

·         Eating a balanced diet high in fiber (high fiber foods – whole cereals, whole grams, fruits and vegetables) that is low in free sugars and fat protects oral and general health. The high fiber content in the foods will counteract the fermentation by bacteria and help to stop the decay.

·         Having a glass of water after eating and rinsing mouth with water for 30 seconds after eating food/beverages. Drinking a lot of water keeps the mouth moist, and helps ward off tooth decay and periodontal diseases by washing away food and neutralizing plaque.

·         Limiting the consumption of sugar-containing drinks, including soft drinks, lemonade, and coffee / tea with added sugar. The best beverage choices include water (especially fluoridated water), milk, and unsweetened tea. 

·         Spacing eating occasions at least 2 hours apart and limiting snack time to 15-30 minutes.

·         Controlling sugar levels in the diet is a key factor in caries prevention. Limiting the frequency of consumption of foods and/or drinks containing free sugars should be limited to a maximum of four times per day. Sugarless or sugar-free food sometimes simply means that no sugar was added to the foods during processing. However, this does not mean that the foods do not contain other natural sweeteners, such as honey, molasses, evaporated cane sugar, fructose, barley malt, or rice syrup. These natural sweeteners contain the same number of calories as sugar and can be just as harmful to teeth (look for the sugar content on the packaging label).

·         Combining desserts and sweets with other food items, or even better, be eaten as part of a full meal or just before the meal.

·         Eating acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and lemons, as part of a larger meal to minimize the acid from them.

·         Avoiding day-long sipping of sugar-containing drinks.

·         Choosing crunchy and chewy foods, such as carrots, celery, cucumber, popcorn, and nuts, which cause saliva to flow.

·         Choosing whole grams, whole wheat products and vegetables with skin and seeds as these foods need thorough mastication.

·         Chewing sugar-free gum is another option that will increase saliva in the mouth and remove food particles that cause tooth decay.

·         Chewing unsweetened Fennel seeds (Saunf) can also be considered as it helps in production of saliva as well as acts as a mouth freshener. 

Summary

Optimal nutrition plays a key role in the development and maintenance of a healthy mouth, especially the teeth and gums. Use of good oral hygiene practices to prevent dental caries focuses on fluoridation, adequate oral hygiene, frequency of eating and drinking, and a varied diet, as opposed to sugar intake alone. Good nutrition is essential for good dental health as well as good general health.

Know the terminology

Cariogenic foods are those that contain fermentable carbohydrates (sugars), which when in contact with microorganisms in the mouth, can cause a drop in salivary pH to 5.5 or less and stimulate the caries process.

Cariostatic foods do not contribute to decay. Examples of cariostatic foods are protein foods such as eggs, fish, meat, and poultry; most vegetables; fats; and sugarless gums.  Sugarless gum may help to reduce decay potential because it uses non carbohydrate sweeteners.

Anticariogenic foods are those that, when eaten before an acidogenic food, prevent plaque from recognizing the acidogenic food, examples being Cheese and Xylitol containing chewing gum. The form and consistency of a food have a significant effect on its cariogenic potential and pH-reducing or buffering capacity.

The Journey from Famine to Feast - John Kuriakose ( Founder & Manageing Director- Dentcare Dental Lab Pvt. Ltd.)

Starting from nothingness, a young boy from a remote village in Kerala was lifted up to a supreme position in dental technology, simply because of his faith and commitment to God - “who lifteth up the meek and raiseth up the poor”. John Kuriakose, Founder and Managing Director of Dentcare Dental Lab Pvt. Ltd; started the lab in 1988 in a small room attached to a dental clinic in Muvattupuzha. It is now a 50,000 sq. ft. world class Dental laboratory; with 1700 skilled technicians, 10 million satisfied patients and more than 10,000 benefited dentists.

John Kuriakose comes from a very poor family, his father and mother being ‘daily wages’ workers in nearby houses. It was very difficult for them to make both ends meet, so that from childhood itself John had faced the bitterness of poverty. Many a day John and his two brothers, Baby and Saju would wait eagerly for their mother to return in the evening, to feed on the “given away collected food” she would bring for them in an earthen bowl.

Adding to their miseries, John’s father and grandfather were mentally abnormal, frequently becoming violent. This mental disease appeared to be hereditary, that his mother was worried about it haunting her children too. Life became so miserable that she attempted suicide thrice. John and his brothers were victims of an inferiority complex in their school days, and they were an object of ridicule in the school and society. They were called “sons of mad Kuriakon” (Bhranthan Kuriakon). John’s desperation and disappointment darkened his life - and his future seemed blank without any hope. In 1983, John completed his SSLC and was forced to work as a rubber tapper to support his family.

One day, John’s mother got a chance to attend a prayer meeting of Christian Revival Fellowship led by Prof. M.Y. Yohannan. The man, who had invited her, gave her the bus fare to attend the meeting and she went with a cloth borrowed from neighborhood. Fortunately, Jesus Christ touched her life in that prayer meeting and she came back with a peaceful heart. The drastic change in the life of John’s mother inspired the whole family to attend these prayer meetings regularly in spite of serious objections from the church.

Slowly happiness and peace crept into the family. This was a turning point in John’s life – the beginning of a journey from famine to feast, from nothingness to fullness, from bitterness to blessedness and from tears to triumph.

At that time, John was working as a rubber tapper. Determination and enthusiasm filled his mind and he wished to have a decent job, with a salary of at least Rs. 250 per month. But John himself was aware that, a person with only pass mark in SSLC cannot even dream a job. But one word from Prof. Yohannan’s message remained deep rooted in his mind- “If one leads a sinless holy life before Jesus Christ, God will fulfill the ambitions in his life.” ‘‘Humility and fear for the Lord, lead a man to riches, honour and long life”. John took this as the gospel of his life, and he assumed the job of an attender in a nearby dental clinic, with a monthly salary of Rs.250. He was earnest and faithful in his job. During the six years spent at the clinic, he was exposed to the complexity of artificial dental prosthesis and learned the tricks of the trade.

Almost every other day John used to watch his doctor struggling and sweating to seat ill- fitting crowns and bridges. Standing at the chair side as an assistant, John silently began to think of fabricating crowns and bridges with precision and perfection. Therein began a sparkling new chapter in his life.

Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution. John worked hard day and night with determination and perseverance, and within a short span of time, a small dental lab with staff strength of ten has grown up to a 50,000 sq. ft. State of the art Dental lab having staff strength of 1700.

At every given opportunity John is glad to proclaim his testimony.  He shares his past with anybody without any reservation to inspire and motivate them. He says it was divine intervention that bought about a change for the better in his life. He knows very well that, what he is now today is only because of the grace of God.

He continues by saying; “I started my career as an attender in a dental clinic. Considering my sincerity in the job, Dr. Reji Mathew, owner of the clinic, promoted me as his assistant, which was an opportunity for me to learn more about dentistry. I noticed dentists struggling with ill-fitting crowns and bridges. Gradually, I thought of setting up a lab, which could provide quality products to dentists. I worked hard day and night doing part time jobs to save money and could set up a lab in a small room at Muvattupuzha, a town in Kerala, South India in 1988.” John completed the dental technician course from Balaji Dental College, Chennai and devoted his time to the growth of the lab, and the results motivated him to grow even further. His brothers Baby and Saju came forward to support him. He was very keen on providing quality services to the clients. A few dentists encouraged this venture.

To go hand in hand with progress, John started to attend seminars and sessions around the world to learn more about the dental scenario and trends. He says: “I started travelling around the world to keep pace with changing trends in technology. I was totally consumed by the passion to set up a lab in India with global standards. I have received training from countries such as US, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Denmark etc. This exposure has given me a deep understanding of technology of major dental companies like VITA, Ivoclar Vivadent, Shofu, Bego, Degudent, Nobel Biocare, 3M ESPE, Dentaurum, EOS, Renfert etc.

During the last 25 years, John has attended over 200 training sessions and participated in a number of National and International dental conferences including International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany. He has been honoured with many national and state level awards. John’s family, include his wife, Mrs. Jessy John, who is the Executive director and Chief quality controller of Dentcare, and the young buds, Joshua, Joel, Job and Jonathan, who have added strength to all his initiatives.

Dentcare Group

Synonymous with superior quality, executive product range, best-in-class technology and state-of-the-art manufacturing process, Dentcare Group of dental laboratories is the largest of its kind in India and could be one among the largest few in the region. The company is ISO 9001:2008 certified and 13485:2003 certified and has CE marking: 1293. The company will soon be getting FDA and ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental). The 50,000-square-feet laboratory carries out all manufacturing processes related to the dental prosthesis. An exclusive export unit of 75,000 sq. ft. will be added this year.

The company has over 10,000 customers, which include those in dental colleges, dental hospitals and clinics. He says: “We have an efficient workforce consisting of skilled dental technicians. All services are supervised by highly qualified chief technicians who have been trained under master technicians from countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Japan, US, Italy and Sweden. We have employed renowned master technicians from Europe to bring a global perspective. We have also involved specialists among dentists to oversee and ensure quality.”

Products and Services

The products include crowns, bridges, dentures, implants, veneers, inlays, onlays etc. The lab offers the best choice in CAD/CAM metal-free prosthesis in India like Lava 3M ESPE(Germany), Cercon Degudant(Germany), Procera Nobel Biocare (Sweden), and IPS e-max Ivoclar Vivadent (Switzerland). In 2011 the company introduced DMLS(Direct Metal Laser Sintered)PFM, EOS (Germany).

The lab has separate divisions for titanium-cast partial, telescopic crowns, Implant supported dentures (Cement Retained Custom Implant Abutment, Screw Retained Crown/Bridge, Hybrid Wrap Around Bridge, Overdenture  Bar and Clip, Custom Bar and Clip) and Precision attachments. Complete Dentures, chrome cobalt cast dentures and Removable Partial Dentures are from renowned brands like BPS (Switzerland), valplast, Bredent (Germany) etc.

The lab uses raw materials from Germany, which supplies the bestquality materials in the world. “As far as Dentcare is concerned, we would never use any material which is harmful to the patient. We would never compromise on quality to beat competition. This makes Dentcare different from others”, insists John.

Dentcare uses modern equipments that are mainly imported from Europe, US and Japan. The registration department uses computer generated job cards and bar-coding system to ensure complete traceability. All departments are computerized and scanning of each work is done at every stage.

“Technology is changing at digital pace and we are very particular about upgrading technology on a continuous basis. We are one among the best to introduce the latest technology like model scanners, model printers etc. Now a long cherished dream of John; “A Research and Development Division” is being set up.

Global Opportunity

“Within 10 years, China and India are expected to be the top economies globally. There will be stiff competition between the two countries in almost all fields. China has large-scale production facilities, but a skilled and educated workforce gives an edge to India.” says John.

John says that a major chunk of Indian population is affected with various dental diseases. The accessibility of rural patients to the clinic is very low, but things will soon change within the next 10 to 15 years.

Customer satisfaction

The guiding light of Dentcare is the management policy which is being followed. According to John. “We never compromise on quality. Our aim is to provide best-quality service to our customers. Our strong faith in God and firm commitment to the safety of our patients who use our products are our greatest strength. Our employees are our valuable asset and they consider this lab as their second home and so we call the Dentcare as ‘Dentcare Family’.

In an interview John exposed his views: “If someone enters this field with the sole aim of making money at the shortest possible time, I must say he is misguided. This field requires a lot of patience, commitment and sacrifice. In the long run, one can survive in this field only by ensuring quality consistently and continuously.  Every year many labs are getting closed.”

John’s immediate priority is to build an export exclusive unit to cater to the needs of dentists in any part of the world. The infrastructure development for this is going on and expected to be completed by 2014. “We want to retain the position of technological superiority. In the long run we will try to emerge as one of the largest and the best labs in the international arena. I still have a dream unfulfilled. It is to set up an international training centre for dentists and technicians and to set up a research and development division to give innovative dental technology to dental fraternity. I am working towards that goal and I believe it will be materialised with the help of my Lord Jesus Christ.”  John shares his dream.

Why to smile?

    Smile – Most influential human gesture

    Laugh – A tranquilizer with zero side effects

·         Smile to stay positive

·         Smile to make yourself seem more successful

·         Smile to grow up in career

·         Smile to spread happiness

·         Smile to create favorable atmosphere

·         Smile to get promoted

·         Smile to be more forgiving and more tolerant to frustration

·         Smile to be more kind and charitable to others

·         Smile to relieve stress

·         Smile to reduce grief

·         Smile to deal with the sad situation better

·         Smile for better health

·         Smile to trigger useful chemical messenger such as  anti-histamines, estrogen, and progesterone , testosterone

·         Smile to boost immune system

·         Smile to lower blood pressure

·         Smile to release endrophins (natural pain killer) and serotonin (contributor to feelings of well-being and happiness)

·         Smile for its therapeutic value

·         Smile to live longer

·         Smile to fortify relationship 

    "The Dentcare" - Your monthly healthcare magazine.

MUVATTUPUZHA: ATTAINING GLOBAL ATTRACTION

When products and services of an establishment start satisfying more and more customers widely, it is quite natural to enquire more about  its ‘whereabouts’ and as to ‘how to get there?’. ‘Hard contacts’ are preferred to ‘soft contacts’ by majority of inquisitive people – website visits and actual visits to institutions can make a world of a difference.

‘Some are born great, some acquire greatness, and on some greatness is thrust upon – it is usually said about people. But have you wondered as to how a place gains recognition? Often a place attains fame and acclaim because of its spectacular contributions and services to society at large; whether it is from an institution, a company or a factory that eventually brands its products.

Here is a humble attempt to present before the discerning reader a sketchy, yet welcome picture of Muvattupuzha. Beginning from an unrecorded past, quoting a couple of mythological notes and mysterious turn of events from ‘history’ might shed further light. The intent is to cover the eons past that would result in an experience that showcases the grandiosity of Muvattupuzha, which is developing today at the pace of a metropolis.

To briefly reflect on mythology, Parasuraman (Lord Rama with the Axe) was pleased to provide a settlement for Brahmins, the Priestly and Upper caste, by creating the holy land of Kerala from the waters, by throwing his divine weapon – the Axe, across the Arabian Sea.

The Brahmin community settled here and flourished. They were followed by the Kingdom of Perumals. The last Perumal decentralized the Kingdom by dividing it into the three Kingdoms of Kozhikode, Kochi and Venad. Marthanda Varma, the mighty King of Venad, conquered the smaller Kingdoms of Vadakkumkur and Thekkumkur, thus establishing the strong Kingdom of Travancore (Thiruvithamkur). Muvattupuzha was then a part of Vadakkumkur.

The legendary King Mahabali’s rule is commemorated in Kerala as the widely observed colorful festival of Onam – an occasion that is honored by every Keralite no matter where they reside – a rule so exemplary that even the residents of Muvattupuzha celebrate it with immense gaiety and values of brotherhood, love and tolerance.

Historically, Muvattupuzha has held a very prominent place as a business hub and as the “gateway town” to the high ranges of Kerala. A variety of spices like pepper, cardamom, ginger etc. from Idukki and cash produce like rubber and coffee from the near-by and far-away regions reached Muvattupuzha market turning it into a vibrant commercial center, even before the bridges of Muvattupuzha and Neriyamangalam were built. The Muvattupuzha Bridge, the first concrete bridge in Asia, celebrates its centenary this year. This in itself is proof of the authenticity of the second-to-none rank of this bustling, yet serene town.

Country boats and barges were the only means of travel and transportation then. For the inhabitants of the high ranges and valleys on the banks of the three rivers – Kaliyar, Kothamangalam and Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha was both an important town and transit port. It had direct waterways connecting Alleppey and Kochi, the bigger trading hubs of Kerala, which further opened to even foreign lands in Europe and the Arab world!

25 years of meaningful existence of Dentcare Dental Lab at Muvattupuzha, has turned it into a destination sought after by thousands today. An ever growing network of thousands of customers and consumers are directly connected to the lab, apart from the hundreds of dignitaries from around the world that belong to the dental fraternity and outside, who visit it annually.

Dentcare Dental Lab is attracting global attention in the field of dentistry,   turning Muvattupuzha into a mecca of the prosthetic empire with its branded products. The company is the first Indian Dental lab to receive ISO 13485: 2003 for its facilities and CE marking for its products that achieve international standard in their production and finish.

Millions of satisfied patients and tens of thousands of dentists all over India and abroad are satisfied Dentcare Customers who have noted Muvattupuzha in Kerala as a dental destination that can make a difference. This has added value to the geographical location of Muvattupuzha as a prosthetic hub which is home to the largest state-of-the-art Dental Lab in Asia.

Visitors from abroad can easily find their way to Muvattupuzha by utilizing the well connected transit point in the Cochin International Airport (Nedumbassery) from where an hour long drive by road will bring them to Dentcare.

The natives (including those from other Indian states and even Keralites at times) find it really hard to locate Muvattupuzha (if for the first time) and even more so to pronounce it - Muvattupuzha (Phonetic symbols of MU-VA-TTU-PUZ-HA).

The following lines are meant to clarify many a doubt of such first-time visitors to Muvattupuzha.

The southernmost state of Kerala in India, affectionately termed God’s own country, can be geographically      divided into three regions: coastal, midland and the highland. The coastal area is more vastly spread than the other two and the MC Road passing through its full length from north to south touches all districts of Kerala except three of the high range region.

Muvattupuzha municipal town is included in the midland region of Ernakulam district, although it is only 30 kilometers away from the Arabian seacoast. A newcomer to Kerala might miss Muvattupuzha town during the process of visiting famous hill resorts of the state like Munnar, Thekkady or Sabarimala, which do not touch Muvattupuzha.  

Muvattupuzha is easily approachable from all directions – east, west, north and south. 

The nearest aerodrome, Cochin International Airport (Nedumbassery) is only 30 Kilometers away. The Ernakulam and Aluva Railway Stations are almost at a similar distance, Aluva being the nearest from Muvattupuzha municipal town where the head quarters of Dentcare Dental Lab Pvt. Ltd. functions. Less than an hour by road would cover the 30 plus Kilometers to the international airport and railways stations. Connection by air or rail can be managed any time without advance booking (international airline seats need to be booked in advance). Those who require a longer stay at Muvattupuzha for business or healthcare can avail accommodation in hotels of various standards and rates of their choice.

The locals, although of various religious sects and beliefs, maintain a respectable tolerance for each other without any party or communal rivalry. Hindu, Christian and Muslim places of worships are seen together at many locations in Muvattupuzha, sharing mutual respect.

Those who are planning a visit to the Dentcare lab on the way to some tourist centers (Munnar, Thekkady, Sabarimala, Ponmudi, Kanyakumari to mention a few) or vice versa can easily schedule their travel by air, road or rail in advance. For further details and clarifications, you can visit www.dentcaredental.com / www.facebook.com/dentcare or contact 0485 2832112, 2836113

As there are no large industrial units or factories at Muvattupuzha, the pollution free atmosphere adds to a safe and refreshing lifestyle.

A sightseeing cum boating cruise over the expanse of the serenely flowing three rivers that surround the town centre at Muvattupuzha (its name etymologically means the place where  the three rivers converge) would be possible in the near future (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation aided project for it is already on the anvil)

This added attraction would certainly stop more and more tourists at Muvattupuzha. Besides this, its present municipal park is eye-catching and is a rare combination of a coastal-mid-highland stretch of land making it a miniature Kerala in itself, which stoops to be kissed by the lingering lover, the Thodupuzha River.