Tooth loss among the elders in an inner city area of Ibadan, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with tooth loss among elders in an inner city area of Ibadan, Nigeria. BACKGROUND: Tooth loss is an indication of the oral health of a population, and the possible effects of oral health on general health of the elders has been reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 392 consenting elders in Idikan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, causes and effects of tooth loss was obtained using a pretested semistructured questionnaire. After the interview, the elders were examined for the presence of tooth loss by a trained examiner. RESULT: Mean (SD) age of the elders was 73.0 (9.2) years. One hundred and eighty-seven (47.7%) participants had ≥1 missing tooth, and 20 (5.1%) participants had complete edentulousness. The mean SD number of missing teeth was 5.9 (4.7) teeth. Age, level of education, monthly income and physical impairment were associated with mean (SD) number of missing teeth (P˂.05). Speech difficulty, appearance problems, chewing difficulty, feeling bereaved, mobility of adjacent teeth, halitosis and premature ageing were reported more by participants who had ˃16 missing teeth compared to those who had ≤16 teeth (P˂.05). CONCLUSION: The mouth prevalence of tooth loss was 47.7%, and mean (SD) number of missing teeth was 5.9 (4.7) teeth. Age, level of education, monthly income and physical impairment were associated with number of missing teeth (P˂.05). Speech difficulty, appearance problem, chewing difficulty, feeling of bereavement, mobility of adjacent teeth, halitosis and premature ageing were associated with increasing number of missing teeth (P˂.05).

Association between self-reported oral habits and oral health related quality of life of adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Oral habits such as nail biting, thumb/digit sucking and teeth grinding could be harmful, and may lead to teeth misalignment, anterior open bite, protruded or flared upper anterior teeth especially if they persist into adolescence. Such orofacial dysfunction may result to impairment of the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of an individual. The extent to which oral habits affect the major domains of the self-reported outcomes remains understudied especially during adolescence, a unique period of growth, where there is increased aesthetic desire, increased self-awareness, and unique social and psychological needs. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the prevalence of oral habits and its association with oral health related quality of life of adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 700 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years (with mean age 14.6 (±1.3) years) attending 14 secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which assessed sociodemographic characteristics of the students, oral habits and OHRQoL with Oral Health Impact Profile 5 (OHIP-5). Data were analyzed with SPSS and p value was at <5%. Mann Whitney U statistics was used to test for associations between OHIP-5 scores and presence or absence of oral habits. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. A total of 363 (51.9%; 95%CI = 48.1%-55.6%) bite their nails, 216 (30.9%; 95%CI = 27.5%-34.4%) breathe with their mouth, 122 (17.4%; 95%CI = 14.7%-20.4%) suck their lips, 89 (12.7%; 95%CI = 10.3%-15.4%) grind their teeth together and 32 (4.6%; 95%CI = 3.1%-6.7%) sucked their thumbs. A total of 403 (81.1%) adolescents who engaged in at least an oral habit reported an impairment of their OHRQoL. Painful aching in the mouth was the most frequently affected OHRQoL item reported by the adolescents who engaged in oral habits. Those who sucked their thumbs (OR = 2.3, 95%CI = 1.1-4.7, p = 0.028) and those who sucked their lips were more likely to have poorer OHRQoL (OR = 1.6, 95%CI = 1.1-2.5, p = 0.024). Oral habits were prevalent among the adolescents and affected their OHRQoL. Those who sucked their thumbs and lips were more likely to report poorer OHRQoL than those who did not.

Using traditional rhyme (folk song) as a tool for oral hygiene promotion (UTRATOHP) among children in rural communities in Nigeria: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most oral diseases are caused by poor oral hygiene, and with adequate oral hygiene measures, they are easily preventable. The use of folk songs to deliver oral health education may likely hold a huge potential for success and an increased likelihood of acceptability and sustainability among school children. Therefore, an investigation into the effectiveness of methods that would be culturally appropriate and sustainable, such as folk songs, is essential. AIM: To determine the effect of traditional rhyme (folk song) as a tool for oral hygiene education among children in rural communities in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a school-based, assessor-blinded, two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial that will assess the effectiveness of oral hygiene messages delivered through traditional rhyme (folk song) on children's oral hygiene knowledge, attitude, practices, and oral hygiene status in two rural communities (Igboora and Idere) in Nigeria. The study will involve a minimum of 424 participants (aged 7-9 years) selected from eight primary schools using the cluster sampling technique. Four schools will be randomised into the test group to receive oral hygiene messages through folk songs, and the participants will sing the song for two weeks. The other four schools will be assigned to the control group, and the participants will receive the usual oral health talk on oral hygiene practices by a dentist. The participants' oral hygiene knowledge, attitude, practice and status will be assessed at baseline, immediate, six, and twelve-month post-intervention. A modified World Health Organization (WHO) Children's oral health survey questionnaire will be utilised for data collection. Oral examinations will be conducted to assess the participants' dental caries experience and oral hygiene status using the dmft/DMFT and simplified oral hygiene indices, respectively. DISCUSSION: Folk songs are popular means of conveying messages in Nigeria, and using them to deliver oral health messages may be an effective, acceptable, and sustainable method among children. This study will provide empirical information about this innovative intervention to guide policy development, dental public health practice, and future studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry-PACTR202010863892797 (October 2020).

Developing an Oral Hygiene Education Song for Children and Teenagers in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Oral diseases mainly caused by poor oral hygiene are a major public health problem affecting over half of the world's population. Oral hygiene education targeted at children and teenagers in schools is an important approach in addressing this problem. Folk songs in the language and cultural context children and teenagers are familiar with appears to be a promising tool and alternative to traditional oral hygiene education. OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to report how a local traditional song on oral hygiene education amongst children and teenagers in southwestern Nigeria was developed with a view to providing information on how the song can be developed in other languages as well as how other oral health education songs can be developed. METHOD: Oral health professionals from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and music experts from the University of Ibadan, in collaboration with traditional/local musicians, parents/guardians, schoolteachers, and community heads, took part in the development of the song over a period of 6 months. Developing the tool involved certain processes which were validated and evaluated. These processes included developing the lyrics, choosing the type of song, creating the melody, and producing and finishing the song as an oral hygiene education tool. Written and audio documentations of the processes were done. RESULTS: A 90-second oral hygiene education song was developed in English and later translated into Yoruba. The numerous steps, collaborations, and meetings required in the development of the song were associated with many learning opportunities including team-building, understanding cultural contexts, effective collaboration, leadership, and communication skills. CONCLUSIONS: Creating new and effective oral hygiene education tool requires various processes and multiple steps and resources. However, it is a necessary and worthy exercise in ensuring sustainable and adequate oral hygiene, especially amongst children and teenagers in underserved populations, as we move into the future.