BY EBELE ONUORAH

Undoubtedly, the consequence of poor oral hygiene begins with discomfort and pain which may lead to life-threatening illnesses. According to experts, poor oral health has remained a widespread global problem and one that is rarely prioritised by governments. Unfortunately, most people also accept it as a fact of life, especially in countries like Nigeria where there is little or no access to dentists.

In the views of a professional Dentists from the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Olufemi Orebanjo, during an Oral Care Social Mission cum Brush Twice Daily Programme organised by Unilever Nigeria Plc in collaboration with NDA at the Ajeromi /Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State last week, regretted that despite the fact that studies have shown that brushing twice a day could prevent against such life threatening diseases many Nigerians seem not to be embracing twice daily brushing.

Statistics available have shown that more than estimated three billion people do not brush twice a day.

In developing countries like Nigeria, where there is low awareness of oral hygiene and a poor healthcare infrastructure, 90 per cent of dental cavities remain untreated.

According to the World Health organisation, (WHO) even in developed countries only 5 to 10 per cent of public health expenditure relates to oral health.

Speaking further, Orebanjo who also noted that poor oral health is preventable said twice brushing can reduce tooth decay.

Studies have shown that people who fail to brush their teeth twice a day may be putting themselves at risk of heart disease.

It is known that inflammation in the body, including in the mouth and gums, has an important role in the buildup of clogged arteries, which can lead to a heart attack.

• A well fed infant tends to grow into a healthy adult.

According to a British Researchers, around 15 per cent of adults aged 21 to 50 and around 30 per cent of people over 50 suffer from severe periodontal disease.

According to the researchers, the link between gum disease (periodontal disease) and heart disease may not be obvious, but chronic inflammation is a hallmark of both heart disease and gum disease. Inflammation in the body plays a major role in the build-up of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack.

It is believed that people with severe gum disease (periodontal disease) may be prone to releasing bacterial poisons known as endotoxins into their bloodstream.

Once in your blood stream, these toxic endotoxins can damage the lining of your blood vessels causing inflammation, which can lead to both strokes and heart attacks both conditions that may be associated with inflammation of the blood vessels.

Orebanjo who said the essence of the exercise was to continually educate the masses on the pros and cons of achieving and maintaining a strong healthy teeth and infection-free gum said brushing your teeth regularly is one of the ways to ensure you don’t carry chronic inflammation in your body.

Stating that healthy teeth prevent obesity, he said “People should avoid junk foods because certain foods we eat are dangerous and harmful to the teeth and just as it affects the teeth so does it affect every other part of the body.”

He further advocated for prompt and quick reporting of any abnormality in the teeth to a dentist. “Don’t wait till you experience pain before you go see a dentist, I encourage you to see a dentist regularly and change your toothbrush every three months.”

Corroborating his views, Nutrition and Health Manager, West Africa, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Dr. Victor Ajieroh, stated that the interest to teach the masses how to maintain healthy and strong teeth by brushing twice daily is what necessitated their visit to Ajeromi.

Ajieroh brushing your teeth twice a day can have an impact on your risk of developing heart disease.

“We plan to visit other communities to let them know that the standard advice for the prevention of both dental caries and periodontal disease was to brush their teeth twice a day.

In fact, brushing your teeth twice a day forms the main theme of the NDA and Unilever oral health programme.

He further explained that Unilever’s decision to produce varieties of the brand of Closeup toothpaste, is to ensure that they meet the different health needs, tastes and desires of their customers. He also advised the masses to watch out for fluoride which is good for healthy teeth.