Dental health is a general term that refers to the overall health status of ones mouth. In an oral examination, the teeth are examined for areas of decay, wear and fracture, defective fillings, discoloration and occlusion.
When all these examinations are than, a person or patient is now said to be in an excellent dental health.
Per records, people who are living in this part of the country, especially Upper East Region sometimes overlooked dental healthcare and do not hesitate to tag people who are seen visiting a Dental Health Center.
A Senior Dentist, Agana Emmanuel at the Bongo District Hospital in the Upper East Region has called for an end to the tagging of people who visit a dental facility.
He advised the public to have regular dental checkups to prevent dental problems such as tooth decay, wear and fracture, defective fillings, crowns, mobility, discoloration, missing of teeth and occlusion and other restorations.
Mr. Agana is of the view that, about 90 percent of Ghanaians fail to see a Dentist in a year for dental examinations and for good oral hygiene. The reason the public also gives for not seeing a Dentist is that, they brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and therefore do not need to see a Dentist.
“Many people believe that, the only time they will visit a Dentist or on oral health center, is when they are in pain or having a fracture, but that ideology is wrong. Regular visits to a dental facility can contribute to a lifetime good oral health. He said.
Mr. Agana explained that, dental health is important and the few Ghanaians who are keeping their natural teeth throughout their lives are as a result of good oral practice.
“You can practice good oral hygiene by always brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth once a day with floss, replacing your toothbrush every three or four months and by eating a balanced diet and limiting between-meal snacks. Despite all these good practices, I advice that, people should not forget to have regular dental checkups to keep the smells out of the mouth.” He said.
Source: a1radioonline.com | Moses Apiah | Ghana
