THE Nigeria Dental Association says a road map to improve oral health in Oyo State would be made easier by introducing school dental visits which will involve dental professional examination of a child’s mouth with the aim of early detection and treatment of dental problems.
Chairman, Nigeria Dental Association, Oyo State, Dr Adeola Akintola, who disclosed that at the 2025 World Oral Health Day press briefing, added that this, backed by the creation of the state’s directorate of dental services, would bring about effective and efficient dental services delivery in Oyo State.
Akintola, flanked by Dr Funmilayo Adeyemi, Dr Oluwaremilekun Dada, Dr Onuche Abu, Dr Clara Akinyamoju and Dr Olabisi Ladoku, all executives of the association, declared that nationally, there is a National Oral Health Policy, which also needs to be implemented at the state level.
“Certainly, if you have a department for oral health or dental services at the Ministry and Oyo State Hospital Management Board, this would help to ensure an efficient and effective oral health delivery in Oyo State.
“So, increasing resources such as infrastructures, drugs and medical supplies, equipment and dental professionals for oral health will contribute significantly to the standard of oral health of the people of Oyo state.
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“The school dental visit will ensure early detection of oral diseases or problems, so ensuring early treatment. Also, if students have access to oral health education, they will tell their parents at home. They will know they should abstain from refined sugar and sticky foods like chocolates, soda drinks and fried plantain.
“They will know how to take good care of their mouths; this is not limited to brushing twice daily, daily flossing and desisting from using hard brushes and other abrasives, stopping buying over-the-counter drugs for dental issues and dental checkups twice a year, and visiting the dentist or dental clinic concerning any dental problem.”
Dr Akintola, however, called for refined sugar-containing products to carry inscriptions that refined sugar, when taken too often, is not good for the teeth, just as it is said on the cigarette pack that smokers are liable to die young.