Dr Olufemi Olagundoye, a specialist in gum diseases, has stated that timely treatment of gum disease and movable teeth is crucial for overall health, including improving the management of conditions like diabetes.
The senior lecturer at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Olagundoye elaborate on oral hygiene being crucial since it is associated with 57 distinct illnesses linked to poor dental health. These ailments include poor pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth and low birth weight kids, as well as heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Poor dental hygiene causes women to give birth to babies who are born prematurely and with low birth weights. It will be difficult for people with diabetes to maintain good blood sugar control if they don’t take good care of their mouth and teeth, the doctor stated.
“With the variety of treatment options accessible today, a significant percentage of teeth extractions are avoidable. The tooth is extracted only when there is no longer any hope and must have see a periodontologist. It is not advisable to remove.
Another Public health nutrition expert Professor Beatrice Ogunba also stressed on the importance of a healthy diet and sufficient hydration for oral health. She said that eating a diet high in fiber, low in sugar, and high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids lowers the risk of gum disease and that food counseling should be part of the treatment plan for those who already have gum disease.