ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A leading Nigerian dental expert and President Nigerian Society for Restorative Dentistry, Prof. Linda Oge Okoye, has raised fresh concerns over the growing burden of tooth decay in the country, blaming excessive sugar consumption, weak policy attention, and inadequate fluoride intake as key drivers of the crisis.
She stated this while delivering the 236th inaugural lecture at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, themed, “Beyond the Smile: The Myth, the Truth, and the Control of Tooth Decay”, in the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campu.
Delivering her lecture, she warned that millions of Nigerians, particularly in Enugu, are at risk due to low fluoride levels in water and food sources.
The Professor summed up her decades-long research with a blunt message: “Sugar is the enemy. Fluoride is your friend.”
According to Professor Okoye, the rising cases of dental caries are largely tied to everyday eating habits, especially uncontrolled sugar intake.
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Prof Okoye who is also the Chairperson of the Association of Nigeria Dental Deans said, “If you want to prevent tooth decay, you must learn to reduce sugar in your diet. And if you must take sugar, take it at meal, not in between meals.”
“The 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reflects an expanded scope beyond its traditional focus on fertility and mortality, incorporating data on non-communicable diseases and dietary habits. In this edition, information related to sugar intake is largely centered on children.”
According to the 2024 NDHS report, “the new indicators on unhealthy diets among infants and young children, revealed that 41 percent of children aged 6–23 months consumed sweet beverages, while 24 percent consumed unhealthy foods within the day or night preceding the survey.”
The report addressed that soft drinks, processed sugary foods, among others are contributing to increased dental disease in the country.
She, however, clarified that not all sugars are harmful, pointing to alternatives like Xylitol, she added that chewing Xylitol-based gum helps stimulate saliva, which plays a vital role in protecting the teeth.
“I also told you that not all sugars are destructive, because to every rule there is an exception. Xylitol is a protective sugar. There are gums containing Xylitol, when you chew it, it stimulates the release of salavia. Salavia is the critical regulator of tooth decay”
The don disclosed that findings from her research revealed a troubling deficiency of fluoride among residents of Enugu, leaving many without natural protection against tooth decay.
“Enugu indigenes are not getting enough fluoride from their water and grains. Therefore, the only source of substitute of fluoride they have is toothpaste.”
She explained that the fluoride level in the region falls far below global standards.
“In Enugu here, we have just a level of 0.3 milligram per liter, and it’s not enough because internationally, the minimum level of fluoride that protects your tooth from tooth decay is 0.7.”
With limited alternatives, she urged strict adherence to oral hygiene practices, saying “Brush your teeth twice everyday using fluoridated toothpaste.”
The professor also took a swipe at government, describing oral healthcare as one of the most neglected areas in Nigeria’s health sector. She revealed that funding for oral health remains critically low.
“Oral healthcare in Nigeria is trampled upon. The budget for oral health is less than 0.5 per cent of the entire budget, It’s too poor.”
She called for urgent reforms, including better regulation of sugar content in foods and drinks. She further urged authorities to prioritise children’s oral health through fluoride interventions.
“Let people know about what they are taking. You think you’re drinking ordinary soft drink, but you don’t know the quantity of refined sugar in the soft drink you’re taking. Let it be labeled.”
Speaking on raising concerns about consumer safety, Professor Okoye warned that many toothpaste brands make misleading claims about fluoride content.
Many of them, according to her said they contain fluoride but when they were analyzed, they saw little or nothing.”
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She said only a few products meet required standards, with some containing over 90 per cent effective fluoride.
While acknowledging the role of traditional methods, she drew a clear distinction between cleaning and protection.
“Charcoal is good for brushing teeth. It does not contain fluoride, but it is good.”
On chewing sticks, she added: “Chewing stick is good, you can use fluoridated toothpaste alongside with chewing stick.”
However, she strongly cautioned against relying on certain local substances.
As Nigeria grapples with broader health challenges, Professor Okoye said ignoring oral health could have far-reaching consequences. For her, the solution is simple, but urgent: reduce sugar, use fluoride, and demand better policy action.
She maintains that, “You need fluoride to protect your enamel. You need fluoride to prevent tooth decay in your mouth.”
Professor Okoye traced her passion for dentistry to a painful childhood experience that shaped her career path.
“I had toothache that disturbed my sleep as a primary school child and I made up my mind to discover the secrets.”
She said her research journey, spanning over three decades, has focused on understanding and controlling tooth decay.
“Over three decades. I have been researching on dental caries. Even after today, I hope to continue researching”, she said