Oral and Dental Health: Panacea for general wellbeing– Expert
By Bashir Rabe Mani in
A Scholar and prominent Dental Surgeon, Prof. Solomon Nwhator, has advocated optimal oral and dental hygiene and early detection and treatment of gum disease as panacea overall wellbeing.
Nwhator, from Obafemi Awolowo University and Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife, gave the advice in his lecture titled ” The Systemic Burden of Gum Disease: Implications for Chronic illness.”
The lecture was at the bi-monthly webinar series organized by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
He emphasised daily dental hygiene especially brushing of teeth twice in a day, balanced diet, high intake of micronutrients for prevention of gum disease, and twice yearly visit to a dental specialist for dental check-up as
Nwahtor said that inflammatory gum disease including gingivitis and periodontitis are very common and affect almost 50 per cent of Nigerians.
Gingivitis, the expert revealed, may at its initial stage or onset presents innocuously as a tinge of blood observed on spitting out saliva after early morning hour teeth brushing.
The lecturer explained that inflammation and plaque formation were the major underlying pathologies for gum diseases and its local and systemic consequences.
He described plaques are slimy thick deposits containing “loads” of bacteria on the teeth and warned that gum disease may result in multiple devastating chronic systemic illnesses.
” When formed and not removed by brushing of the teeth properly, plaques penetrate deeper into the gum which subsequently swell up and gradually become eroded leading to periodontitis, and loss of tooth bone or the entire tooth.
” Gum disease can lead to systemic illnesses through dissemination of bacteria into the circulation. This occurs because periodontitis makes the gum looks red and permeable with loss of the epithelium or barrier between it and the rest parts of the body.
” Bacteria thus spread easily to the systemic circulation. The lecturer therefore described the mouth as a reservoir of persistent active infection that potentially spread bacteria into the systemic circulation, ” Prof. Nwahtor explained.
He stressed that gum diseases were associated to immuno-activation, the bacteria which contained in the plaque or circulation serves as antigens that stimulate immune response leading to production of myriads of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, tumour necrotic factors and interleukins.
” While the primarily response intended to defend the body, it can become extremely intense as in war scenario and often makes dangerous immune system mistakes.
” It causes autoimmune tissue damage, and destruction of the body system through a mechanism that may described as ‘friendly fire” in a war front,” he highlighted.
Nwhator further explained that the immunological reactions serve as as quiet fire leading to many diseases in virtually all parts of the body including but not limited to the heart, lungs, brain, urinary system, hair and gastrointestinal system (GUT).
” Gum disease may also affect mental health, the insulin system causing diabetes, and the reproductive system leading erectile dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcome such as preterm birth or pregnancy loss.
” Immunological process thus explains the direct and indirect link between gum disease chronic systemic illnesses,” the Lecturer added.
The expert recommended that specialists in various areas of medical and dental care should develop holistic and integrated multidisciplinary approach to treatment of gum disease.
In his remarks the President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Prof Anthony Ikefuna, said the College as an apex constitution established by law for postgraduate medical education in Nigeria undertakes the Webinar Series to provide continuing medical education and up-to-date knowledge in various medical specialties. He congratulated Prof Nwhator and the Faculty of Dental Surgery for a suggestion Webinar.
