By JOAN ODAFE

A Consultant Dentist, Dr Bolaji Adebiyi, has cautioned Nigerians to take care of their oral health because many medical challenges first show signs in the mouth.

The dentist spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday

Adebiyi, who is also the Founder of Kopul Dental Clinic, and a retired Director of Medical Services for Lagos State, decried the low awareness of oral health in Nigeria.

According to the dentist, many people don?t go to the dentist for a check-up, except they are in pain.

Adebiyi said that most dental issues could be corrected before becoming complicated, if addressed early.

He said the lack of awareness had caused a lot of problems, evident in situations where people experienced dental pain that could be relieved with simple analgesics but took advice from non-professionals, of which worsened the situation.

?Some will say, add garlic plus bleach, and put it there.

?By the time they come to the clinic and you examine the mouth , the mouth is already burnt, the gum is already flaking,? he said.

Adebiyi further said that oral health was a major aspect of general health, and a lot of medical challenges including diabetes, first appear in the mouth.

He said: ?If you are diabetic, you begin to see that your mouth is dry and there?s not enough saliva flowing to wet the mouth, it may be a sign of high sugar.

?When you begin to see your mouth that it?s not as pinkish as expected or is over pink, these are signs that some general medical problems are happening, but it?s showing first in the mouth.?

Speaking of complications from dental diseases that could lead to death, the dentist said: ?Most wisdom teeth cause problems and become a major challenge to bring out.

?They are the last to come out and often, the space for it is already occupied by the other teeth.

?So, we have seen instances where it swells and pus is formed.

?The pus now extends into the neck and chokes the breathing. We call it Ludwig?s Angina.

?Unless there is an urgent incision and drainage to take the pus out, we have seen instances of death,? he said.

He recommended brushing the teeth with care to avoid harming it, and spend at least five minutes during the process.

?When you?re brushing, nobody should hear, don?t brush like you?re in a war.

?Such people, when they take cold water, when they take any drink that is sour, it shocks them.

?Most importantly, you must clean the last part of your tongue as if you want to vomit.

?That is where mouth odour begins, where the bacteria resides,? he said.

Adebiyi urged Nigerians to care for themselves by observing every part of their bodies, and taking note of changes, signs and symptoms.

He cautioned that inability to sleep, headaches, irregular or inconsistent texture of bowel movements, among others, could be indications that something was wrong with the body.

He further urged organisations, particularly those with health insurance, to insist that their staff take advantage of it for regular check-ups. (NAN)

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