The Head of Dental Department at the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa in Ondo State, Dr. Segun Adegoke, has said that chewing sticks are better for cleaning the teeth than toothbrush.
Adegoke told the News Agency of Nigeria in Okitipupa that chewing sticks contain anti-microbacterial substance called tannin, which was the same as fluoride in toothpastes.
He said the natural tannin helped to fight bacteria in the mouth, maintained the gums, made the teeth stronger and improved the oral hygiene more than toothbrushes.
According to him, the tannin is in the bark of the chewing stick, so it must not be removed to enjoy the tannin.
Adegoke said: “Our aged parents used chewing sticks and even at 60 years of age, their teeth are stronger than that of the youth of today.
“Why many people choose toothbrush is because it is faster to use and they also hold the belief that chewing stick is outdated.
“I think chewing sticks are better than toothbrushes because the tannin in it helps in various ways to keep the teeth cleaner, fresher and stronger.”
Adegoke, however, said that the only advantage toothbrush had over chewing stick was its angulation, its ability to get to the corners of the mouth.
The dentist advised brushing of the mouth twice daily, in the morning and in the night, with either chewing stick or toothbrush to remove food particles and bacteria, which causes mouth odour.
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