In a bid to promote oral health among young people, Oyo state government on Wednesday, flagged off a dental health mission which would benefit over 5,000 pupils drawn from 13 primary schools across the state.
The joint dental health mission in collaboration with other partners including Rotary Clubs in Oyo state, Nigerian Dental Association, Oyo state and Fortune Health Plus Initiative; is to afford the pupils oral examination, demonstration of tooth brushing and distribution of tubes of tooth paste and brushes.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Taiwo Ladipo at the flag-off of the joint dental health mission at the Baptist Primary School Isokun, Oyo Town, said that good oral health especially for primary school pupils allow for good health, successful education and reduction in incidence of poverty in the community.
Dr. Ladipo said issues that affect oral health of children start while they were still inside the womb and therefore urged Nigerians to prioritise their oral health.
He asserted, “We want a situation where children, if well educated will be able to do what is expected in relation to their dental care. Once children are imparted with an intervention, they will influence others.
“These pupils will be enlightened on the need to regularly visit the dentists every six months, change their tooth brush every three months and wash their teeth regularly to prevent oral diseases.
“Most of us, even adults are negligent of our dental hygiene. The idea of seeking dental health checkup is still very low. The intervention is to get people to change their health seeking behaviour, especially with regards to dental health and ensure that we have a better recourse in years to come”, he added.
Representative of Rotary Clubs in Oyo state, Mr. Samuel Kolawole, stated that December is a disease treatment and prevention month in the club, hence the group’s interest in the oral hygiene of young people.
Similarly, the Chairperson, Nigerian Dental Association Oyo State, Dr. Adesola Odofin represented by Dr. Ayodeji Ajimoko stated that tooth decay is the most common dental problem in children and could lead to abscess, gum infections and the loss of the teeth.
She stated that tooth decay in baby teeth in children can cause tooth decolouration, affect their ability to eat, thereby contributing to poor diet and general and mental development in children.
Dr. Olusoji Ijidale, Chief Operating Trustee of Fortune Health Plus Initiative stated that the association decided to partner with the government on the dental health mission because dental health of children in the state was poor, and requires an intervention to prevent oral conditions that could mar their future.
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