Meningitis, heart problems may start from the mouth —Prof. Tomori

Past President, Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Oyewole Tomori has stressed the need for integrating oral diseases into the National integration diseases surveillance, saying many deadly diseases like meningitis and heart problem sometimes starts off in the mouth.

Tomori spoke at the opening of the 5th Annual general meeting and scientific conference of the Nigerian Association of Dental Public Health (NADPH) at College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

The expert declared that many diseases can manifest in the mouth because it is the home to over 700 microbes and the main entrance to vital systems in the body such as the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system.

“There are bacterial diseases that move from the mouth to the heart and some to the kidney. Some bacteria in the mouth have been associated with cancers.

“Also, viral diseases in the mouth have also been associated with many diseases like mumps. Some were associated with a form of meningitis,” he declared.

The expert, who noted that oral health was essential for general health and quality of life, stated that oral diseases share similar risk factors such as poor diet, tobacco, poor hygiene and harmful alcohol use with many non communicable diseases and as such are better tackled alongside.

Given that oral disease is among the most common non communicable disease and can be a manifestation of other problems in the body, he stressed that dentists alone cannot stem the problem the mouth gives.

Tomori stated that achieving World Health Organisation’s target of halting tooth decay in children and reduction of premature deaths from oral cancers needs to start from home, stressing that this must involve a multidisciplinary collaboration.

He, however, urged increased community oral health education to ensure their involvement in their oral health, research on oral diseases, as well as universal health coverage to tackle the problem.

Chairman at the occasion, Professor Jonathan Lawoyin, described public health as the backbone of good medical care, urging members of the association to lead in research on causes and conditions that affect oral health.

Provost College of Medicine, Professor Bunmi Olapade-Olaopa, speaking through his deputy, Professor Obafunke Denloye said multidisciplinary collaboration is the foundation of patient care and the way health care is going.

Earlier, NADPH’s President, Professor Sonny Jeboda said the occasion was to update its member’s knowledge on oral health as well as bring oral health to national focus.