Follow Us on Google
From Gyang Bere, Jos
As the world commemorates World Oral Health Day, world’s largest cleft organisation, Smile Train, has called on cleft-affected children and families to visit the nearest partner hospital for treatment.
Vice-President and Regional Director for Africa, Smile Train, Nkeiruka Obi, disclosed this during the 2023 World Oral Health Day.
He noted that the organisation provides free, holistic and comprehensive cleft care, including oral health and orthodontics.
She called for more cleft patients to visit the nearest partner hospital for oral health care. She explained that cleft is a common birth different in which the patient experiences difficulty in breathing, eating and speaking, saying children with clefts are more likely to have missing or mispositioned teeth and will often require ongoing orthodontic treatment.
She noted that they may be particularly susceptible to tooth decay or cavities and are often marginalised, excluded, and bullied, which can further restrict their access to basic dental and surgical care.
Obi said without care, these children may, therefore, end up in great pain and lose teeth at an early age. This can impair their ability to chew, speak, and even sleep, significantly harming their health and quality of life.
“It is essential that children with clefts, receive timely oral healthcare to not only significantly decrease the development of tooth decay and cavities but also improve quality of life in the long term.
“Timely oral health care uplifts cleft-affected children’s mental and emotional health and enables them to thrive. As we commemorate World Oral Health Day, we endeavour to provide quality cleft care so that patients with clefts can also be proud of their mouth,” Obi said.
According to the World Health Organisation, 3.5 billion people (50 per cent of the world’s population) are affected by oral diseases, with three out of every four affected people living in low-and middle-income countries. Good oral health is essential for eating, breathing, and speaking, and contributes to overall health, well-being, and confidence.
