Important to see dentist twice every year

THE South African Dental Association and Colgate have embarked on a campaign to educate South Africans, especially men, about oral hygiene.

Speaking to Sowetan this week at the launch of oral health month, Ian Erasmus, president of the dental association (Sada), said men were the worst offenders as far as neglecting dental care was concerned.

"Men are scared of the dentist. They often give an excuse that they are too busy to go to the dentist.

"The only time they see a dentist is when they are in pain and the poor doctor has to perform a miracle to save the tooth," he says.

Erasmus says a lack of education and negligence in oral health prompted the campaign.

He said Sada was going to set up preventative programmes at schools to encourage children to look after their teeth from an early age.

"South Africans are neglecting their teeth and the industry is getting concerned. The campaign is taking a prevention approach to encourage people to look after their teeth to prevent caries, which is very common these days," Erasmus says

He says through oral health dentists can pick up diabetes and heart ailments .

"Dentists can pick up if a person has diabetes by their breath or bleeding gums," Erasmus says.

To prevent tooth decay Erasmus recommends regular dental check-ups. Sixmonthly check-ups are a must, he says.

Source: Sowetan