A Professor of Community Dentistry, Folake Lawal, has warned that Nigeria is facing a threefold crisis in oral health, caused by inadequate prevention, low awareness, and limited access to care.
Delivering an inaugural lecture titled “From Schools to GLocal Communities: Impacting the Oral and General Health of Generations,” Lawal described the country’s oral health system as one in which largely preventable diseases remain widespread due to inadequate knowledge, insufficient services, and delayed care-seeking behaviour.
She noted that oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, continue to affect millions of Nigerians across all age groups, with many patients seeking treatment only when their conditions become severe.
According to her, this trend has led to increased complications, including infections, tooth loss, and a reduced quality of life.
“Many individuals live with untreated oral diseases and only seek care when complications arise,” she said.
Lawal explained that oral health challenges extend beyond physical discomfort, impacting eating, speech, social interaction, and overall well-being.
She identified the key drivers of the crisis as poor awareness of oral hygiene, weak preventive practices, and inadequate access to affordable dental services. Despite the availability of simple measures such as regular brushing, reduced sugar intake, and routine dental check-ups, she noted that adoption remains low.
The professor called for urgent reforms, including increased investment in oral health systems, the integration of dental services into primary healthcare, and sustained public awareness campaigns.
“Improving oral health is essential for enhancing overall well-being across generations,” she stressed.
She also advocated for the introduction of school-based oral health programmes and the training of teachers and primary healthcare workers to promote good oral hygiene at the grassroots level.
To address the shortage of dental professionals, Lawal suggested alternative approaches such as peer education and the use of multilingual educational videos to expand outreach, particularly in underserved communities.
“Pre-recorded videos can complement available specialists and help ensure the sustainability of oral health promotion,” she said.
Lawal, therefore, urged policymakers to prioritise oral health, stating that meaningful improvements in national health outcomes cannot be achieved without addressing the growing burden of oral diseases in Nigeria.