How the Use of Toothpick Causes Harm to Teeth & Gums - Dentist Warns Nigerians

A medical expert in Dentistry in Ilorin, has warned
that using toothpick to remove food remnant from
teeth could harm the teeth and gums.

 

Speaking exclusively with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ilorin, Dr. Alatishe
Muhammad, an expert in Dentistry, has warned that
using toothpick to remove food remnant from teeth
could harm the teeth and gums.

The medical practitioner who said that what was
medically recommended was cleaning between the
teeth at least once a day, using an interdental
cleaner such as floss, adding that a toothpick was
not considered as an interdental cleaner, and as
such it was not recommended for cleaning teeth.

“Using a toothpick is not an ideal way to remove
something stuck between your teeth. Toothpicks
can cause abrasion and damage to your teeth at
the base where they meet the gums. This can lead
to gum disease and other dental problems,” he
said.

Muhammad said that preventive dentistry was the
modern ways of helping individuals keep a healthy
mouth, adding that preventive dentistry helped keep
the teeth healthy, leaving people with less of dental
treatment.

“Every age group can benefit from preventive
dentistry, including the very elderly, the very young
ones and also those without teeth where mouth
cancer and denture stomatitis can be prevented.”

According to the medical expert who further
advised people on the need to eat healthily through
consumption of fruits, vegetables, adequate
nutrition, diet and less sugary substances; “Avoid
smoking and alcohol consumption, ingestion of
fizzy and acidic drinks with straw is better than
alcohol.”

According to him, brushing of teeth should be
done at other times during the day and also last
thing at night. He advised people against visiting
traditional homes to remove fictitious worms from
the mouth, adding that such method made people
to fall victims and incur more harm than good.

The dentist also urged people to embark on
regular checkups in approved dental clinics every
three months and cleaning of teeth every six
months.

                                           Illustrative photo (Image: youngisthan.in)