Irregular dental visits blamed for oral diseases

By Edmund Smith-Asante

A visit to the dentist is not what many people like to do, unless they have a dental problem that needs to be solved.

Such has characterised activities of most dental surgeons and the dental departments of most hospitals in the country, says Dr Emmanuel Sowah, General Medical Practitioner and Medical Superintendent in charge of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Accra Hospital.

Dr Sowah, who spoke in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic last Thursday after a presentation on “Dental Disease, Prevention and Control”, said a visit to the dentist twice every year could prevent many oral health problems and cost at least GH¢100 for a visit to a private facility.

He made the presentation as part of activities to mark a Safety Awareness Day programme by the VRA on the theme: “Shortcuts cut lives short”, in Accra.

“I think people are underutilising the dental services available when it comes to the preventive aspect – people will wait to get problems before they will go and see the dentist, but seeing the dentist at least twice a year is a major need that people have,” the VRA medical superintendent told the Daily Graphic when asked about the attendance rate of Ghanaians to the dentist.

During his presentation, Dr Sowah said dental caries, one of the causes of tooth loss, was caused by a bacterium which fed on the enamel (hard part) of the teeth as it combined with food substances left in the mouth and created dental plaque, a pale yellow film on the teeth.

“As germs feed on the teeth they produce an acid that destroys the teeth,” he said, adding that the germs then attack the inner soft part of the teeth.

Dr Sowah advised that to prevent dental diseases such as tartar, caries and bad breath which could come from the mouth, nose or stomach, there was the need for visits to the dentist twice in a year, brushing of teeth twice daily and consuming healthy diets.

He asked for a limit to foods that are high in sugar and also sticky in nature but a preference for healthy foods, raw fruits and vegetables, flossing of the teeth regularly, as well as healthy life-styles.

Poor oral health linked to diabetes 

In a speech read on his behalf, Ing Kirk Koffi, Chief Executive Officer of VRA, said “Poor oral health has been linked to chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular problems, respiratory and lung diseases.”

According to the chief executive, studies had shown that there was a link between diabetes and gum disease and that people with diabetes were more susceptible to gum disease, which could put them at greater risk of diabetic complications.

He said maintaining good oral health included keeping the teeth free from cavities and preventing gum disease, and that poor oral health affected one’s appearance and self esteem as well.

Ing Koffi held that an improvement in oral health could lead to overall general health and that a healthy smile boosted one’s self esteem and image.

In a presentation on “Physiotherapy Education” led by Dr Kojo Essel, Cocoa Clinic, Accra, he said physiotherapy was preventive medicine and that most of the pains experienced by many were as a result of the adoption of wrong posture when sitting, standing, lying, walking or lifting something.

He urged the adoption of a good posture all the time as a habit which meant always keeping the spine in an upright position. 

Mr Kofi Ellis, Director for Planning and Business Development, VRA, said the observance of a Safety Awareness Day was an annual function that VRA held every year in their operational areas to remind every staff of the importance of safety in their work and personal lives.

“Safety is a very key part of our operation – electricity is a very dangerous commodity, if you don’t handle it well, it can cause death, so VRA and safety move together,” he stated.

Writer’s email: Edmund.Asante@graphic.com.gh 

This story was first published by the Daily Graphic on December 18, 2013