Clean teeth for long lasting friendship
By Linda Asante-Adjei
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - Many Ghanaians believe their teeth are strong and, therefore, do not worry about them but research is proving this notion erroneous.
Studies by the Ministry of Health show that chronic gum infections are endemic in the Ghanaian adult population and this is the cause of bad breath, which is now widespread.
It was also found that gum infections are the second highest cause of dental extraction among adults. The situation is worse among children. Similar researches show that about 90 per cent of school children have gum infections.
Children who said they used toothbrush and toothpaste had better oral hygiene than their counterparts who used traditional methods of cleaning their teeth. Although the experts say teeth are for life, this is true only if one takes good care of them.
A parent once advised her children to work hard to keep their teeth clean and maintain their friends because bad breath would surely drive away the best of them.
Oral hygiene or oral cleanliness is, therefore, not only a basic need for achieving good oral health but also a need for improving one's social life. Just as the saying goes "Clean mouths are healthy mouths", it is important for people and communities to do all they can to have good oral hygiene and maintain it at all times not only to keep their friends but also have good health generally.
The experts say this could be achieved through the use of both the traditional and conventional means. Locally, materials such as chewing sticks and sponges are always available for the purpose while the toothpaste and the brush can also, do the job.
Though both means are recognised and could achieve their intended purposes, their application or use should be performed well and properly. This is essential because reports from out-reach dental services throughout the country and recent surveys among school children in various districts indicate poor oral hygiene status.
On the average, more than 90 per cent of school children in the districts have poor oral hygiene. This is worrisome because of the high association between poor oral hygiene and poor gum health and vice versa.
The use of these traditional materials is mostly found in the rural areas where about 80 per cent of the population uses them in cleaning their teeth. The use of these materials is a tradition that has been handed over from generations and there is the need to improve upon their use and pass them on to the next generations.
This is because there is scientific proof that chewing sticks are very effective in cleaning the teeth when properly used. Improper use of it, however, cannot protect against poor oral hygiene.
In Ghana, it seems the traditional 'tools' like the sponge and the chewing sticks are not being used properly because though research findings indicate that 80 per cent of the population claim to clean their teeth at least once a day, the level of oral hygiene observed is not encouraging.
The problem of oral hygiene facing the country is most likely to be due to improper use of the chewing sticks and the sponge.
It is in the attempt to stem some of these problems that the Ministry has since 1994 included the celebration of oral health week in its annual programmes to draw attention to this public health issue and educate the population on steps to improve upon them.
The theme for this year's celebration, which fell on 22 - 27 July, was "Oral Hygiene - Improving the Use of Traditional Methods". The theme was selected to educate the public on the proper use of traditional tooth-cleansing materials.
Launching the activities for the week at Yendi in the Northern Region, the Minister of Health, Dr Richard Anane said the cost of dental treatment and resources required to manage the complications of oral health diseases are very high.
He said it is important that urgent attention is given to the promotion of oral health in order to control and prevent dental decay. Fluoride, which occurs naturally in water and food, protects the teeth and the gums against tooth decay and gum infections.
To improve the oral hygiene of children, the Minister recommended the strengthening of the dental component of the school health programme. This, he said should include dental health education, regular dental screening and supervised tooth cleaning with chewing sticks and toothbrushes in all schools.
The role of parents in the promotion of oral health in children should be given a greater attention. For instance, parents should encourage children to adopt good personal hygiene by ensuring that they clean their teeth in the morning and before going to bed.
In addition, the proper way of brushing the teeth should be taught in schools and at home. There is also the need for health workers such as the public and community health workers to be trained to promote oral health in the communities in which they work.
In Ghana fluoride is available in many toothpaste on the market, which could be used to improve oral hygiene and prevent tooth decay. The Minister, therefore, urged parents to buy fluoride toothpaste for their children to use.
Dr Oppong Mensah, Head of the Oral Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, advised that to get the maximum benefits from fluoride toothpaste, one should not rinse the mouth with water immediately after brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
It is important to keep the foam in your mouth after brushing because the presence of the fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. In addition, to using fluoride toothpaste, some mouthwashes that contain fluoride cold also be used.
He suggested that the Ghana Dental Association educates its members to adopt prevention as the pillar for the provision of dental services for the public.
They need to educate their clients and teach them proper oral hygiene practice and encourage them to have regular check-ups for early diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases.
Improving oral health of the people demand the collaborative efforts of the Sector Ministry and other stakeholders including the private sector, families and the dental professionals.
They can also support frequently the promotion of oral hygiene through educational programmes, especially, at the district level. Teachers and the Ghana Education Service should take up the challenge of helping to improve the oral hygiene of school children to reverse the current situation.
People should also make it a habit to visit the dentist every year for check-ups, preventive care and early diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. Everybody, especially, children should make the effort to reduce their sugar consumption in order to reduce or prevent tooth decay in the communities.
The most important pillars, therefore, are to clean the mouth well, use fluoride toothpaste, reduce intake of sugar based foods and visit the dentist regularly.
GRi../
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