Tooth brushing twice a day prevents tooth cavity, heart disease -Experts

Countless kinds of toothpaste are on sale in drugstores, but you do not need to buy a pricey one to do well by your teeth. Just pick the one you like or feel you can afford, whether it’s paste or gel, may not be safe to your health if the toothpaste does not contain calcium and fluoride twice a day. These were the views of experts at Unilever’s Smile Pledge event that held in Lagos recently.

Adeyemi Olusile, a professor of dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, said that brushing the teeth with fluoride toothpaste is essential to good oral health as it prevents tooth cavity, a bacterial infection that causes removal of mineral irons from the dental enamel and destroys the hard tissues of the teeth.

While brushing the teeth does not help prevent tooth decay, Olusile noted that it helps prevent gum disease, which is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults and has been linked to heart attacks and strokes.

“The foods that we eat contain sugars and starches. When plaque, the sticky substance that forms on the teeth, combines with these sugars and starches, an acid is produced that attacks tooth enamel, which causes tooth decay. Plaque can also irritate the gums and lead to gum disease. Irritated gums can become red, swollen, tender, and bleed, easily causing gingivitis, the beginning stage of gum disease.

“If plaque is not removed, the gums can eventually start to pull away from the teeth. When this happens, bacteria and pus-filled pockets can form and the bone that supports the teeth can be destroyed. Once the bone is destroyed, the teeth will loosen or have to be removed. Bacteria have means of sticking to our mouth, and if we do not brush them properly in the morning and night, they cause holes in our teeth. We must brush our mouth twice daily with calcium and fluoride filled toothpaste, like Pepsodent in order to reduce bacteria,” Olusile explained.

This is in tandem with the American Dental Association which recommends brushing the teeth at least twice a day for about two minutes, preferably after eating.

David Okeme, brand building director, Unilever Nigeria, disclosed that in order to let kids get stronger teeth for the future, it is important to stay healthy and avoid oral care problems by keeping the tooth clean daily.

“The new pepsodent cavity fighter toothpaste integrates active micro Calcium and Pro-Floride Complex. This dual technology is proven to effectively fight cavity and fortify teeth in the long term. Micro calcium helps repair tiny invisible holes before they become cavity. Pro fluoride complex protects teeth for a longer period,” Okeme explained.

The commitment to support the cause of fighting tooth cavity saw Unilever donating over N10 million worth of Pepsodent toothpaste to Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS).

Receiving the donation, Mobolaji Onibudo, Lagos State branch chairman, NRCS, disclosed that the donation of the toothpaste will be given to the vulnerable group in the society, including various motherless homes that are beneficiaries under Nigerian Red Cross Society.

“We know the level of insurgencies we are facing in the country. We have a lot of internally displaced people and various camps set up by the Federal Government.  I’m sure if you go up North and you know the level of challenge they are having in those camps, I’m sure this product would solve the problems of a lot of children even adults alike. This is very important especially for internally displaced people in various camps.

Globally, dental decay affects a large percentage of adult populations and 60-90 percent of children in many countries. With about 70 percent of Nigerians having one issue or the other with their teeth and ongoing demographic, health and nutrition transitions, the incidence of dental caries is believed to be on the rise  in Nigeria, a situation that portends huge risk.

ALEXANDER CHIEJINA