YOUR chewing stick is as good as your toothbrush, the Dental
Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria, DTRBN, has declared.
The Board
has also given a pass mark to traditional tools for maintaining oral
hygiene in Nigeria, arguing that apart from being efficient in keeping the
mouth clean, they are also medicinal. The Acting Registrar, DTRBN, Mrs. Mercy
Ojo, told Good Health Weekly that maintenance of good oral hygiene does not
necessarily have to be with toothbrush and toothpaste, because there are
chewing sticks that perform as well if not better than toothbrushes. “We
recommend chewing sticks like Pako Ewuro or Pako Orogbo that act as cleaning
agent and remove the coat on the tongue.
These chewing sticks are known to
motivate pregnant women to eat and act as an appetizer.” Further, Ojo, a Dental
Therapist noted: “Pako Ayan’ cleans the teeth and arrests the Sickle Cell
Anemia in those affected. Pako Emigbegiri cleans the teeth and it is not
advisable for ulcer patients. Pako Ijebu and Pako Ibo clean the teeth, make it
whiter and it serve as appetizer while Pako Meyinro cleans and strengthens loose
teeth.
It also helps to reduce periodonties while Pako Dudu or Pako Pupa cleans
teeth but discolours it.” Ojo who disclosed that poor oral hygiene contributes
to different oral diseases lamented that too many people fail to
abide by the principle of brushing twice a day. “Ideally, you should just flush
your mouth with water when you wake up in the morning and do the brushing of
your teeth after breakfast to keep your mouth clean and with fresh breath for
the rest of the day. “But because many people may forget to do that after the
meal or may not feel comfortable, the idea of brushing first thing in the
morning comes in. Ideally you should brush your teeth after breakfast.”
Sounding a note of warning, Ojo said failure to brush last thing at night gives
microorganisms like bacteria opportunity to act on leftover food to produce
acids that destroy the teeth.
She urged people to visit their dentist
twice in a year and cautioned against patronizing quacks who sell drugs
like Touch & Go, acid water, battery water at the motor parks, buses and
discourage people from visiting their dentists. On her part, the Chief Dental
Therapist, Isolo General Hospital and Coordinator, Lagos State Dental
Therapists, Mrs. Olufunke Odunowo urged people to maintain good oral hygiene
and report to the clinic
Reference:
Reference:
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