Lagos – A dentist, Dr Chioma Nzomiwu, on Tuesday said that children needed regular dental checkups to maintain good oral healthcare.
Nzomiwu, who works in the Paediatric Dentistry Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
She spoke on the sidelines of the 10th University of Lagos Annual Research Conference and Fair with the theme: “Implementing New Research Strategies for National Transformation’’.
According to her, oral health conditions can cause considerable pain and discomfort, which affect what children eat and drink.
”There is inadequate information on the impact of common oral health conditions on the quality of life of pre-schoolers.
“Many studies selectively assessed the impact of only one or two conditions on their quality of life.
”A prospective interventional study was carried out between two and five year-old children and their parents or guardians using a slightly modified Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS).
”ECOHIS is an oral health measure specifically developed to assess the impact of oral health problems in preschool-age children and their families,’’ she said.
Nzomiwu said that a data of 208 subjects were analysed with overall 48.1 per cent males, while majority of 75.5 per cent of the caregivers were mothers from diverse ethnic background.
She said that over 50 per cent of the various diagnosed oral conditions were dental caries and its sequelae.
“`Dental caries is a bacterial disease characterised by demineralisation and dissolution of the dental hard tissues.
”This corresponds with the reports that dental caries, as a prevalent chronic childhood disease, is still a major problem for both the child and parent.
”The studies concluded that oral conditions affect the daily life of children and significantly impact on their quality of life.
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“Consequently, parents and guardians are greatly advised to pay particular attention to their children’s teeth.
“They should brush their teeth two times a day, that is morning and night, and they should also visit the dentist at least twice a year,” Nzomiwu said. (NAN)