EXPERTS WARN ON SUGARY SNACKS AS UK CHARITY SETS DENTAL CAMP IN ARUSHA

 

Dentists have raised concerns on the deteriorating oral health in the country leading to tooth decay.

They are proposing a change to lifestyles specifically reduced use of tobacco and consumption of sugary snacks.

Sugary snacks are more lethal to the children as they can cause tooth decay and tooth loss to the adults if exposed for longer periods.

"It is largely a problem of lifestyle", remarked Dr. Thadei Mosha, the head of the dental unit at the Mt. Meru hospital in Arusha.

He was speaking during a free dental clinic hosted by the Smile Star Care, a charity based in the United Kingdom.

He told journalists that tooth infections have increasingly become a challenge in the country's health delivery system.

The problem has been compounded by the shortage of dentists in Tanzania which is far below the recommended global benchmark.

Currently in Tanzania, one dentist is serving 128,000 people compared to the UK where there is one dentist for every 2,000 people. 

The UK, with its 60 million people has 40,000 dentists while Tanzania with almost the same number has 3,000 dentists and dental therapists.

Dr. Mosha said the regional hospital was receiving over 20 patients with dental problems a day, yet it was short of the dentists to attend to them.

Dr. Pip Dariwal, the principal dentist and CEO of  Smile Dental Care said 500 dental patients were attended to during the week-long clinic.

The charity brought in five dentists and other volunteers, medical equipment and drugs for the clinic to people with dental problems.

"The whole exercise has cost us approximately $ 100,000 (Sh. 240 million)", he said, noting that this was their second free dental clinic in Tanzania.

The first one took place in Mufindi district, Iringa while others have been held in Kenya, Uganda, India, Zambia,South Africa and Malawi.

Last week's dental camp was undertaken in collaboration with Alama Africa, an NGO based in Arusha.

Dr. Mitesh Badaini, the director of Smile Star, implored African states   to invest in oral health, saying dental diseases could be fatal.

"Smoking or tobacco chewing can cause oral cancer while tooth decay can lead to serious bacterial infection", he said.

However, he said, diseases associated with teeth were preventable through mouth wash and effective tooth brushing.

"Eat less sugar, stop smoking, avoid too much consumption of alcohol", he said, urging people to brush teeth at least twice a day.