Expert harps on early dental check for children

Consultant pediatric dentist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Prof. Bunmi Orenuga, has said that proper oral health is paramount in the overall wellbeing and functionality of the body system.

Speaking at an event to mark the Children’s Day, Orenuga said the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, hence should be taken proper care of.

She said it is important to introduce the child to a dentist as soon as the child is born.

“This event came up about ten years ago from the fact that we observed that a lot of children are not aware of their oral health. A lot of people do not bring their children to the clinic at the right. They wait till the problem is really nonredeemable before coming. We now have to remove the teeth and we do not want children losing their teeth at a very tender age,” she added.

The pediatric dentist said the event is to change the narratives, to make children not just children but parents and guardians to be aware of the importance of teeth not just the permanent teeth but also the baby teeth.

Orenuga said the annual event that takes place on children’s day, “when you come, you benefit from oral health education, the type of food to eat, when to see the dentist. Going a step further, we examine the children’s teeth for free and offer some minor treatment for free.”

The expert said the keynote for Children’s Day is healthy smile, and healthy mouth stating that if you have a good mouth you have a lot of self confidence you can talk freely in public and at the same time people love your smile if you have good set of teeth and it takes knowing your dentist at an early age.

The consultant added that when you take good food, the rest of the body and brain function properly you are very good academically and you have a sound mind coupled with good health.

“Children are very good learners they are very good oral ambassador and oral health promotion as well. They earlier we start teaching them, the better,” she added.

She urged the populace to visit a dentist at least two times a year for proper oral health.