Brushing your teeth twice a day, in the morning and the last time right before bed, remains the greatest method to maintain good oral hygiene, despite popular belief.
Dr. Adeola Akintola, a dentist, disclosed the information at a school outreach to Green Tree Schools by the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (Oyo State Branch) in Ibadan. The outreach was to commemorate the 90th birthday celebration of the association’s founder, Professor Oludayisi Oduntan, and other nonagenarian icons.
According to Dr Akintola, twice daily tooth brushing will ensure any food debris sticking to the gum, which can bring about tooth decay and holes in the teeth is prevented.
She urged that individuals also refrain from taking refined sugars, chocolate, sweet, chewing gum and sticky foods without brushing afterwards to prevent tooth decay and subsequently a hole in their teeth.
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Dr Akintola said brushing should be done with a toothbrush with a soft or medium-textured bristle. Time should be given to ensure that all the surfaces of the teeth, the tongue, and sometimes the roof of the mouth are washed with toothpaste to remove dirt or sticky foods.
“The tongue is important; you brush it such that it becomes light pink. The whitish coating on the tongue is dirt. Of course, that is one of the sources of mouth odour. Being clean doesn’t mean it will be white. So, even if the teeth are not white but slightly brown, they should still be clean.”
Dr Akintola cautioned that complaints like bleeding or swollen gum and a painful tooth shouldn’t be overlooked but reported at the hospital.
Dr Shakirat Olanlege, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, said it was important that they maintain their physical well-being by taking nutritious meals, exercising, and engaging in social activities like debate and literary groups so that they can interact with other people even in other schools.
She urged them to cultivate good social and educational well-being and to dream and work up to achieve their dreams through prayers.
In her reaction, the school manager for Green Tree Schools, Mrs Shakirat Abiola-Olukokun, said the health talks had made the children and teachers better versions of themselves at the end of the programme.
“I will appreciate it if such a programme can be taken around other schools as well, so that other children will be motivated, especially seeing how the students here were highly motivated,” she stated.
President of Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (Oyo State Branch), Dr Omowunmi Femi-Akinlosotu said the school outreach was part of the association’s activities to commemorate the 90th birthday celebration of MWAN founder, Professor Oludayisi Oduntan and other MWAN nonagenarian icons
“We felt that we should do something in line with our specialities. We talk about dental hygiene and general hygiene to the students. And then at the end of the day, we distributed toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste each for the students,” she added.
