NAN-HG-10
Dental
By Tinuade Adeshiyan
Ikorodu (Lagos State), March 20, 2017 (NAN) An Ikorodu General Hospital in Lagos on Monday celebrated this year’s World Oral Health Day with free dental screening for over 70 beneficiaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the free screening exercise was tagged “Live Mouth Smart.’’
NAN reports that the screening was organised by the Dental Department of the hospital.
At an open address to the beneficiaries on proper care of their teeth, two dentists (names withheld) advised Nigerians to avoid the use of toothpicks because it could damage the teeth.
“Using toothpicks to remove food left-overs is a bad habit but rather use dental flux to remove it, ’’ they said.
The dentists said that Nigerians should inculcate the habit of having their teeth checked twice in a year.
According to the dentists, this could help in detecting any abnormality.
They also said that it was very important to rinse the mouth after every food.
“It is advisable to rinse the mouth after eating sweet things because some of the left-overs stick to our teeth and it will begin to damage gradually.
“Use toothpaste that contains fluoride and avoid using hard brush because it will damage the gums: so use soft or medium brush.
|“Also try and brush vertically. Do not brush horizontally and brush for up to two minutes,’’ the medical experts said.
The dentists, however, advised residents to eat balanced diet and inculcate fruits into their eating habits as it could help in overall health.
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They also advised parents to take care of their children’s teeth, saying that “if it is not properly taken care of at infant, it could have been damaged before their old age’’.
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“Take care of your babies’ teeth too. Offer them fruits instead of biscuits and sweets and if they insist on eating sweet things, always remind them to rinse after eating any food.
“Bring them for check-up during their holidays and use milk teeth toothpaste for them when they are between 0 and six years of age,’’ the doctors said.
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The experts, however. advised those using chewing stick, to chew it in a soft consistency and cut off the chewed part, if needed to be used the second day.
Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Rose Adedokun, said that she was happy to benefit from the screening.
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“I am happy to be part of this, I have been having teeth problems for a while now but today, they removed it for me at free of charge, ‘’ Adedokun said.
A patient, Mr John Nweokoma, said he was happy to be treated freely.
“At first, I thought my tooth would be removed but they told me I only needed treatment, which I was given at no cost,’’ he said. (NAN)
TAL/FF/AJA
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Adeleye Ajayi)