Leading Nigerian Dentist Recommends Annual Check-ups For Children
Dentist and director of paediatric dental health Dr Olunfunke Denloye, , has recommended annual dental checks for children.
Dr Denloye was speaking at the University College Hospital in the Dental Centre in Ibadan as part of this year’s Children’s Day event. More than 150 children were in attendance and Dr Denloye took the opportunity to encourage the kids to visit a dentist on a regular basis.
Dr Denloye said that too many children are only seeing a dentist when they have dental problems or they are suffering from tooth pain and encouraged parents to take their child for an annual dental check to prevent oral diseases. Around 80 per cent of the 150 children who attended the Children’s Day event had never seen a dentist before. She encouraged the children to become ambassadors in their local community to get people involved in oral health issues and urge them to see a dentist on a regular basis and adopt healthy eating habits.
Dr Joy Ifesanya, another leading dentist, also encouraged children not to suck their thumbs, as it can cause problems with the positioning and alignment of the teeth.
Dr Aderonke Dedeke spoke to children about diet and nutrition and highlighted the dangers associated with snacking on sweet foods and eating sugary treats. Dr Dedeke also stressed the importance of brushing the teeth twice a day and encouraged children to use dental floss to remove food debris, rather than tooth picks.
Children from six different schools in Ibadan attended the event; during the day they were shown how to brush their teeth properly and given free oral health checks.
Join this Discussion