By CHIOMA OBINNA

A Simple act of brushing and flossing the teeth at least twice daily is known to be effective in preventing oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Oral health has been known to affect, be affected by or contribute to various diseases and conditions, including heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke may be linked to oral bacteria, possibly due to chronic inflammation from periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease.

In other words, taking care of oral health is essentially an investment in overall health so it is hardly surprising that the World Health Organisation, WHO, states that oral health is essential to general health and quality of life.

The WHO describes good oral health as a state of being free from mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection and sores, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that limit an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking, and psychosocial wellbeing.

Priority areas

In the last quarter of 2012, Nigeria’s National oral health policy was made public, presumably in line with international standards, to focus on priority areas such as oral health promotion, training/human resources development, service delivery, research, monitoring and evaluation, information and communication technology, and oral health information system.

At the launch in Abuja, Mrs. Fatimah Bamidele, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, hinted that the policy in question had been endorsed by the National Council of Health with full blessings of the Federal Executive Council. Prior to this, on November 18, 2010, a 10-man technical working group and a ministerial steering committee on the improvement of oral health in Nigeria was been inaugurated.

The working group produced a draft policy, along with back-up programmes including re-equipping of federal dental facilities and other oral health promotional activities.

Although there is no data to show the real prevalence of periodontal diseases in the country, the need for oral healthcare is palpable and largely unmet, going by the notable level of unawareness about the significance of the mouth as a gateway to the body.

Today, consensus is that in view of the many years of delay in formulating the National Oral Health Policy, the effect is palpable.  Argument by concerned parties is that oral healthcare has not really been adopted as an integral part of general health, having long been neglected by government and the community.

Many Nigerians at risk of one oral disease or the other including risk of heart-related diseases due to poor oral health, have been given little or no awareness or education about the significance of their condition. In view of this, concerned health professionals have continued to call for urgent implementation of the policy to improve oral healthcare in the country.

In the view of National President of the Nigerian Dental Association, NDA, Dr. Olurotimi Olojede, “it is time to speak openly about it and to address the great inequalities that exist in terms of oral health, especially as appropriate services are not available for many people in low – income and middle – income communities.

Further, Olojede who rated oral health low in the country, said: “Any investment in oral health that leads to an improvement in oral health status will yield dividends of good general health.”

Challenges of oral health

He spoke during a Medical Mission in Gbongan Community in Osun State on occasion of this year’s World Oral Health Day with the theme: “Healthy teeth for Healthy life”.  On the enormous oral health challenges in the country such as periodontal disease and dental caries, he said: “There is a need to develop sustainable strategies for national preventive and therapeutic oral health services to cope with magnitude of oral health challenges in Nigeria.”

Olojede said the oral health policy if implemented would ensure the three tiers of government are involved in activities concerning oral health as well as ensuring that a dental clinic is attached to every Primary Health Care facility across the country.   “Such facilities will be full fledged dental clinic with facilities for dental care as well as the required personnel such as dental surgeons.  Establishment of these centres would also bring oral health care to the doorstep of Nigerians at the grass roots.

For healthier teeth, he recommended daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables for stronger, healthier teeth. “Avoid excessive consumption of refined sugar.” He listed risk factors for oral diseases to include an unhealthy diet, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use and poor oral hygiene, and social determinants.

Preventive dentistry

Speaking,Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Adeyemi Olusile, said the Mission was aimed at ensuring preventive dentistry at the grassroots. “The average Nigerian believes that if he removes one or two teeth, it does not matter and that the disease of the mouth does not kill. But that is not true, he noted.

Erstwhile NDA President, Dr. Olufemi Orebanjo described the oral health policy as a roadmap towards achieving effective treatment and management of oral ailments.  “I want to believe that government is putting machinery in motion to see that the policy benefits all Nigerians, he admonished.  Unilever West Africa, a stakeholder in the oral healthcare industry was involved in the medical mission where over 2000 people benefited from free dental screening and treatment.

In a comment, the Nutrition and Health Manager, Dr. Peter Ajiero said through its Close Up brand, Unilever was collaborating with the NDA to ensure Nigerians understood the challenge of oral health and take  actions like brushing twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste to prevent and reduce the impact of adverse oral health conditions.