‘90% of Nigerians suffering from oral health challenges’

Health experts have revealed that about 90 per cent of Nigerians are suffering from oral diseases affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people globally. They said lifestyle choices such as being addicted to sugary items, poor diet, frequent smoking, and constant alcohol intake are major factors affecting oral health.

The experts advised Nigerians to visit their dentists at least twice every year and also brush their teeth twice a day to maintain good oral health. The most common oral diseases include dental caries or cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, Noma, and birth defects, affecting the mouth, teeth, and facial structures that are essential for eating, breathing and speaking.

Speaking at the oral health outreach organised by the Ideal Dental Foundation International (IDFI) in collaboration with the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) at Karonmajigi Junior Secondary School, Abuja to commemorate the World Oral Health Day, the Founder, Ideal Dental Foundation International, Dr Francis Uche, said that oral hygiene is the most neglected aspects of health and well-being, adding that most Nigerians wait until they are in pain before seeing a dentist.

“Oral hygiene is the most neglected sector of general well-being because people don’t take their teeth or their mouth seriously. A lot of people go for their yearly check and are more concerned about their blood pressure, kidney, and health generally, but neglect routine tooth check.

“Most of the time, people wait until they develop a toothache before they visit a clinic. We need to change that narrative; people need to take oral hygiene more seriously. Have your routine check twice a year, you don’t have to be in pain or experience any discomfort before you visit a dentist,” Uche said.

Uche observed that all children and the aged, especially in the vulnerable, underserved and indigent populations of the society, should have opportunities for good oral health care.

IDFI Programme Manager, Mrs Temitope Babatunde, who highlighted the need for Nigerians to take good care of their oral health, observed that poor oral health has implications as they can lead to dental emergencies.

“If you eat sugary foods, you take acidic foods and don’t take healthy diets; the implication is that you begin to develop over time tooth decay. By the time you visit a clinic, you are left with the option of having an emergency intervention like extraction of your teeth.” She stated that a medium toothbrush is the most prescribed toothbrush to use, adding that it must be changed every three months.

“With the appropriate and right manner of brushing, you are going to maintain excellent oral hygiene without the use of a hard toothbrush. Hard toothbrush with hard bristles causes injuries and sores on the gum, which could also lead to an oral health problem.”

She observed that the foundation provides free oral screening among students of various grade levels, as well as oral health education, while students with the most critical dental needs and diseases will be booked for free treatment.

On his part, Programme Coordinator/Community Engagement Manager, Dr Wisdom Okereke, said that the theme for this year’s World Oral Day, ‘A Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind”, seeks to direct attention to the importance of a healthy mouth in relation to mental/psychosocial health, thereby highlighting the importance of a healthy mouth for sound mental wellbeing and psycho-social activities.

Okereke observed that the community approach is important for underprivileged families as it also addresses the financial burden of oral health care, enables accessibility to a modern dental clinic and accelerates universal health coverage.

A dentist with the NOMA Centre at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Somachi Offia, said that the mouth is the window to the body and a healthy mouth is a healthy body.

According to Offia, only a small proportion of advantaged Nigerians seek oral health services, hence the need to reach the underserved communities. She observed that poor oral health has both social and psychosocial impacts, including bad breath. “Most Nigerians see oral health as a luxury and unnecessary, but it is as important as taking care of any part of your body.”

Also speaking, Senior Programme Officer, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), Catherine Osho, emphasised the need for people to imbibe good oral hygiene from childhood to avoid tooth decay and loss of teeth. She said good oral health and healthy teeth help to boost self-esteem and confidence.

Osho added that ECEWS is collaborating with the IDFI to provide technical support, health education and hygiene to enable the students to learn how to take care of their oral health.