A dentist and Head of Dental Department at Niger State General Hospital, Dr Uyi Iguodala, has warned Nigerians against using petrol, acid and alcohol to treat toothache, saying such remedies can cause further harm.
Iguodala, in an interview with THE WHISTLER, also advised against self-medication with antibiotics and excessive use of charcoal, while urging people with tooth pain to seek professional care early.
He also debunked the belief that tooth decay is caused by “tooth worms”, describing it as a myth.
“There is nothing like tooth worms. What decays is what I explained earlier. Bacterial activity on the remnants of the overprocessed food that people consume daily forms acid that dissolves the tooth substance, which eventually appears as a ‘hole’,” he said.
He explained that tooth decay results from bacterial activity on food remnants, particularly sugary and overprocessed foods, which produces acids that gradually damage the tooth.
Iguodala said commonly used remedies such as warm salt water and clove water may provide temporary relief but do not treat the underlying cause of toothache.
He said warm salt water could temporarily relieve gum inflammation, while cloves contain eugenol, which can temporarily numb dental pain.
He also warned against excessive use of charcoal, saying its abrasive nature could wear down the enamel, the outer layer of the tooth.
The dentist advised Nigerians against taking antibiotics without proper dental or medical assessment, saying inappropriate antibiotics, incorrect dosage and failure to complete treatment could worsen the condition and contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Early Attention
Iguodala urged Nigerians not to wait until tooth pain becomes severe before seeking professional care.
He said early presentation at a dental clinic gives dentists a better opportunity to identify and treat dental problems before they become more complicated.
“It’s better that a specialist checks and tells you there’s nothing to worry about, than by the time you come, you will be told, ‘Oh, if you had come earlier, maybe we would have been able to do something about this,” he said.
Iguodala identified tooth decay and gum disease as common dental problems among patients.
He attributed tooth decay largely to excessive consumption of sugary and overprocessed foods, including soft drinks, bread and meat pies.
He said gum problems could also result from poor oral hygiene and excessive or aggressive use of toothpicks.
“Gum disease could be caused by a number of factors, Number one most common that everybody or most people can relate with is the excessive or overzealous use of toothpicks and poor oral hygiene.
“Although there are situations in which certain chronic disease conditions, like diabetes, or immune suppression, where the person’s immunity is severely reduced, you can find cases of bleeding gums in such persons,” he said.
Iguodala further said conventional braces are used to correct the alignment of teeth, particularly in cases involving misaligned permanent teeth.
He distinguished them from ‘fashion braces’, which he said are attached to the teeth for aesthetic purposes and are not designed to move or correct them.
He said the timing of braces treatment depends on an individual’s dental condition, with treatment generally becoming possible after permanent teeth have emerged.
How To Protect The Teeth
Iguodala advised Nigerians to brush twice daily with an appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste and use the proper brushing technique.
He also recommended reducing the consumption of sugary and processed foods, cutting down on frequent snacking between meals and choosing healthier alternatives such as nuts, fruits, vegetables and other whole foods.
He urged people to drink more water, saying it helps dilute acids that form in the mouth after eating and has a cleansing effect.
The dentist also recommended routine dental check-ups at least once every six months, even when there are no obvious symptoms.
He said regular dental visits can help detect problems early, before they become painful or require more complicated treatment.
Cost Of Dental Care
Iguodala said the cost of dental treatment varies depending on the location, facility and whether a patient visits a public or private hospital.
He estimated that scaling and polishing in public hospitals could cost between N7,000 and N25,000, while fillings could range from N7,000 to N40,000 and simple extractions from N5,000 to N20,000.
In private clinics, he said scaling and polishing could cost between N40,000 and N100,000, fillings between N40,000 and N100,000, while surgical extractions could cost between N80,000 and N300,000.
He called for measures to make dental care more accessible, including stronger insurance coverage, increased dental capitation and lower costs for dental materials.
“At the federal government level, the benefits of National Health Insurance Agency (NHIS), and capitation could be expanded, in the sense that the emergency pain relief procedures and simple fillings for pregnant women and preventive care for children under five years of age and the elderly are properly covered.
“In addition to that, the federal government could also encourage local manufacturing of dental essential consumables, such as local anaesthetics and filling materials, which are mostly imported, and even in the case of importation, they can remove vats and import duties to make these materials more affordable for the dental care providers. And of course, if the materials and the consumables are cheaper for the providers to get, the cost of treatment will be reduced.
“Then, just like we have the NYSC, the National Youth Service Corps Scheme, the federal government could introduce a structured National Dental Service Scheme for NYSC that is for dentists that are youth corps members. They could be co-opted into a dental service scheme in which case a serving dentist can be offered some other incentives, such as increasing their pay during such services,” he said.
