Consultant Dentists Attribute Tooth Loss to Gum Diseases

 

They told newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, that tooth loss had a lot of psychological and social consequences.

Prof. Godwin Arotiba, the Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, recently renamed Moshood Abiola University, said that the consequences of losing a tooth could be minimal.

“A tooth loss can have effect on the adjacent and opposite teeth because the opposite teeth can tilt into the space and may affect the joint in front of the ear.

“Losing many teeth will affect the structure of the face, including your looks and that will definitely affect the way you feel.

``The psychological and social consequences of tooth loss can be profound; as it will affect speech, interaction with people, eating habits, thereby affecting the general health.”

Arotiba, who said that lost tooth could be replaced, urged people to avoid risk factors such as tobacco smoking and poor dietary habits.

Prof. Gbemisola Oke, a Consultant Dentist, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, noted that tooth loss was common among the affluent and the rural dwellers.

Oke said that losing the first molar was common among the affluent while most rural dwellers lost the front tooth to gum diseases.

Comparatively, she said that Nigerians were still better than their counterparts in industrialised countries in terms of tooth decay.

``Essentially, because our own diets do not contain much sugar, tooth loss to decay appears to be less than what obtains in the industrialised world.``

According to her, gum disease constitutes a problem if left untreated for long and could result to tooth loss.

She recommended toothpaste that contain fluoride, saying that it helps in the reduction of tooth decay and good oral hygiene.

In her view, Dr Bolanle Akinboboye, a Consultant Dentist at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said that a survey had shown that majority of Nigerians maintained their teeth.

“Surveys done in the past shows that many elderly and people in their 30s, have more than 20 teeth in their mouths.

``This is encouraging; but I still urge people to have the habit of visiting the dentist at least twice in a year for a better oral health,” Akinboboye said.