BY SADE OGUNTOLA
Chairman, Nigerian Dental Association, Oyo State branch, Dr Fechi Nwwocha says the high burden of tooth decay and gum disease in Nigerian children is worrisome, putting it at 4 out of every 10 children seen at the dental clinic.
Dr Nkwocha, speaking at the commemoration of 2023 World Oral Health day in partnership with Oyo state Ministry of health on Monday at St Michael Catholic Primary School, Ibadan, said in it is not just that they have tooth decay, but most times, the tooth decay is not the type that can be treated easily.
According to her, “you see a child who has 20 teeth, having up to 8 of them decayed and it is a lot of financial burden for their parents. The child is in pain and misses school; the parent misses work hours because the child is taken to the dentist.
“It can be frustrating both for the parents, the doctor and the teachers as well having to deal with a child who is frequently out of school.”
Dr Nkwocha said the burden of oral diseases is high in Nigeria, linking it to poor awareness of good oral health practices, wrong perception of oral disease does not have serious consequences on general health and limited access of Nigerians to dental care.
“Oral diseases have been linked to heart diseases, poor insulin and glucose control in patients with diabetes, low birth weight in pregnant women, among others. Treatment of advanced dental diseases is costly and time consuming.
“Thankfully, many of these oral diseases are preventable and easily treated in early stages with good oral health practices such as brushing two times a day with a toothbrush that contains fluoride toothpaste, using dental floss, avoiding use of toothpicks and eating natural and healthy foods and oral check up every 6 months.
“A lot of Nigerians have limited access to oral health care facilities and services. Nigeria has an estimated dentist to population ratio of 1 to 54,000. A far cry for the recommended ratio of one dentist to 5,000 people, hence another reason for the poor oral health profile.”
In his remark, Oyo State commissioner for Health, Dr Olabode Ladipo, the celebration conveys the state’s commitment to oral health care and creates the awareness that oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages without the associated ill health.
Dr Ladipo, represented by Dr Olusoji Adeyanju, Permanent secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health said that oral health services was a focus in the state’s quarterly free health mission and urged all stakeholders to support reducing the burden of preventable oral health diseases through oral health awareness creation in schools and at the grassroots.
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