Your teeth- Frequent check-ups will save you from decay
Dec 06, 2009
CAN you imagine, the dentist replaced my missing teeth two days before my wedding day?†said Susan, a hairdresser in Kampala who had lost her front teeth since childhood. “Now I can smile.â€
By Dr. Robert Zavuga
CAN you imagine, the dentist replaced my missing teeth two days before my wedding day?†said Susan, a hairdresser in Kampala who had lost her front teeth since childhood. “Now I can smile.â€
Many people have never visited a dentist in their life time. Worse still, many of us only visit dentists because we have got unbearable tooth pain.
Dr. Davis Ntulume, a dentist in Kampala, says although many diseases affecting the mouth start as painless and progress slowly, a regular dental check up helps identify and curb the disease early.
Scientists argue that the mouth being the prime entry of food in the body suffers more harsh conditions than the rest of the body parts.
They add that although oral conditions (diseases affecting the mouth) are slow progressing, they are responsible for over 92% of tooth loss and over 60% of the general body disability.
In essence, everyone suffers from oral diseases ranging from bad mouth smell whose effects are undesirable.
Surprisingly, few victims recognise the gravity of their problem but dentists advise that this problem is largely preventable and better still, treatable.
False teeth (ebinnyo)
Then here comes the popular complaint of false teeth popularly referred to as ebinnyo. In one of his presentations, Dr. Louis Muwazi, the head of the dental department at Makerere University, says false teeth do not exist.
He adds that what the locals call ebinnyo are real teeth which parents take to traditional medical practitioners (but not dentists) for removal.
Dr. Muwazi said: “The proof that ebinnyo are real teeth is that they never develop again and the person suffers with gaps in the mouth forever.â€
He says anyone who thinks their child is suffering from ebinnyo should visit a dentist.
Dental caries
Although it is not painful in the beginning, disease progression in the later months can lead to toothache and if further ignored lead to tooth loss.
According to a 2006 study by Nalwadda, many people still believe tooth decay is caused by a worm which goes on eating one tooth after the other.
Many people are not aware of the contribution of refined sugar rich foods in the initiation and progression of dental caries.
Dentists advise that everyone’s diet should be free of refined sugars and brush their teeth after every meal. They further stress that it is not the type of toothpaste or toothbrush one uses but the brushing technique.
Visit your dentist for advice on proper brushing techniques and change your toothbrush every three months.
Crooked teeth
They are another problem affecting people’s beauty and confidence to smile. According to Dr. Aisha Bataringaya, a consultant orthodontist, teeth which are wrongly positioned can be caused by delayed removal of milk teeth or early extraction of milk teeth.
“Milk teeth should be removed at the right time to avoid crooked teeth in future,†says Dr. Bataringaya.
Other factors that may cause the problem include; small jaws when one has big teeth or big jaws when one has small teeth, finger sucking and tongue thrusting, breathing through the mouth instead of the nose and deformities in one’s skeletal growth.
She advises individuals with crooked teeth to seek dental treatment.
Replacing of lost teeth
Doctors replace them with artificial ones — dentures which are removable and the non-removable ones permanently fixed in the mouth like real teeth called bridges. However, before you make a choice, discuss the options with a dentist.
Dentists are asked about the best treatment for toothaches and cavities when faced with a choice between tooth extraction and cementing.
“Many patients have a misconception that once a tooth gets a cavity, it is better off removed than cementing it,†says Dr. Francis Ochieng, a dentist at Mengo Hospital.
He advises patients with toothache and cavities to seek dental attention for possible conservation of their teeth other than removing them because it affects their facial outlook and hinders proper chewing of food.
Syrups and tooth decay
Dr. Ntulume says syrups have sugar additives which sweeten them and once the sugar is left on the tooth surface, it accelerates the decay. He says after administering syrups to your babies, gently brush their teeth.
In addition, the mouth suffers other diseases like cancers, ulcers, sores, jaw fractures, reduced/increased saliva flow and abnormal swellings.
According to the study by Dr. Adrian Kamulegeya, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Mulago Hospital, jaw fractures and skull injuries are the commonest accident cases.
He advises patients who get jaw injuries to seek urgent medical attention before they permanently run into disability.
Dr. Francis Lakor, another oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Mulago Hospital expresses concern that many people suffer from diseases of the mouth but delay to seek medical attention yet these conditions are treatable if detected early. The surgeon advises people not to ignore these conditions however painless they might be.
Inspite of medical/diagnostic advances and the desire for dentists and oral surgeons to treat all diseases affecting the mouth, individuals affected especially men do not have the motivation to seek frequent checkups and treatment.
According to a study about gender and health seeking behaviour in Kawempe division by Dr. Annet Kutesa, only 27% of men seek medical treatment compared to 74% of females.
These diseases are expensive to treat and therefore efforts should be directed to prevention and frequent medical checkups other than cure.
Dental advice
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after each meal.
Floss your teeth at least once a day, preferably at night for it aids in removing food trapped between the teeth
Avoid eating foods containing refined sugars like chocolate, sweets and biscuits
Change your toothbrush regularly, at least every after three months
Visit a dentist for checkup every after six months.
CAN you imagine, the dentist replaced my missing teeth two days before my wedding day?†said Susan, a hairdresser in Kampala who had lost her front teeth since childhood. “Now I can smile.â€
Many people have never visited a dentist in their life time. Worse still, many of us only visit dentists because we have got unbearable tooth pain.
Dr. Davis Ntulume, a dentist in Kampala, says although many diseases affecting the mouth start as painless and progress slowly, a regular dental check up helps identify and curb the disease early.
Scientists argue that the mouth being the prime entry of food in the body suffers more harsh conditions than the rest of the body parts.
They add that although oral conditions (diseases affecting the mouth) are slow progressing, they are responsible for over 92% of tooth loss and over 60% of the general body disability.
In essence, everyone suffers from oral diseases ranging from bad mouth smell whose effects are undesirable.
Surprisingly, few victims recognise the gravity of their problem but dentists advise that this problem is largely preventable and better still, treatable.
False teeth (ebinnyo)
Then here comes the popular complaint of false teeth popularly referred to as ebinnyo. In one of his presentations, Dr. Louis Muwazi, the head of the dental department at Makerere University, says false teeth do not exist.
He adds that what the locals call ebinnyo are real teeth which parents take to traditional medical practitioners (but not dentists) for removal.
Dr. Muwazi said: “The proof that ebinnyo are real teeth is that they never develop again and the person suffers with gaps in the mouth forever.â€
He says anyone who thinks their child is suffering from ebinnyo should visit a dentist.
Dental caries
Although it is not painful in the beginning, disease progression in the later months can lead to toothache and if further ignored lead to tooth loss.
According to a 2006 study by Nalwadda, many people still believe tooth decay is caused by a worm which goes on eating one tooth after the other.
Many people are not aware of the contribution of refined sugar rich foods in the initiation and progression of dental caries.
Dentists advise that everyone’s diet should be free of refined sugars and brush their teeth after every meal. They further stress that it is not the type of toothpaste or toothbrush one uses but the brushing technique.
Visit your dentist for advice on proper brushing techniques and change your toothbrush every three months.
Crooked teeth
They are another problem affecting people’s beauty and confidence to smile. According to Dr. Aisha Bataringaya, a consultant orthodontist, teeth which are wrongly positioned can be caused by delayed removal of milk teeth or early extraction of milk teeth.
“Milk teeth should be removed at the right time to avoid crooked teeth in future,†says Dr. Bataringaya.
Other factors that may cause the problem include; small jaws when one has big teeth or big jaws when one has small teeth, finger sucking and tongue thrusting, breathing through the mouth instead of the nose and deformities in one’s skeletal growth.
She advises individuals with crooked teeth to seek dental treatment.
Replacing of lost teeth
Doctors replace them with artificial ones — dentures which are removable and the non-removable ones permanently fixed in the mouth like real teeth called bridges. However, before you make a choice, discuss the options with a dentist.
Dentists are asked about the best treatment for toothaches and cavities when faced with a choice between tooth extraction and cementing.
“Many patients have a misconception that once a tooth gets a cavity, it is better off removed than cementing it,†says Dr. Francis Ochieng, a dentist at Mengo Hospital.
He advises patients with toothache and cavities to seek dental attention for possible conservation of their teeth other than removing them because it affects their facial outlook and hinders proper chewing of food.
Syrups and tooth decay
Dr. Ntulume says syrups have sugar additives which sweeten them and once the sugar is left on the tooth surface, it accelerates the decay. He says after administering syrups to your babies, gently brush their teeth.
In addition, the mouth suffers other diseases like cancers, ulcers, sores, jaw fractures, reduced/increased saliva flow and abnormal swellings.
According to the study by Dr. Adrian Kamulegeya, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Mulago Hospital, jaw fractures and skull injuries are the commonest accident cases.
He advises patients who get jaw injuries to seek urgent medical attention before they permanently run into disability.
Dr. Francis Lakor, another oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Mulago Hospital expresses concern that many people suffer from diseases of the mouth but delay to seek medical attention yet these conditions are treatable if detected early. The surgeon advises people not to ignore these conditions however painless they might be.
Inspite of medical/diagnostic advances and the desire for dentists and oral surgeons to treat all diseases affecting the mouth, individuals affected especially men do not have the motivation to seek frequent checkups and treatment.
According to a study about gender and health seeking behaviour in Kawempe division by Dr. Annet Kutesa, only 27% of men seek medical treatment compared to 74% of females.
These diseases are expensive to treat and therefore efforts should be directed to prevention and frequent medical checkups other than cure.
Dental advice
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after each meal.
Floss your teeth at least once a day, preferably at night for it aids in removing food trapped between the teeth
Avoid eating foods containing refined sugars like chocolate, sweets and biscuits
Change your toothbrush regularly, at least every after three months
Visit a dentist for checkup every after six months.