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Dental Surgeon cautions children against sugary foods
A Dental Surgeon in Accra has attributed the soaring cases of tooth decay among children, to consumption of too much sugary products.
Dr Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, at PEB Dental Clinic again said that eating in-between meals also cause obesity among children.
Tooth decay, she explained, is the softening of the tooth enamel which causes damage to the structure of the tooth, by acids that are created when bacteria break down sugar in the mouth.
Keeping a good oral hygiene among children is a collective concern of the parents and the family as a whole.
This notwithstanding, she said that, “parents who go to work and leave their children at home make them prey to tooth decay because they eat a lot of sugary foods in the absence of their parents.”
Stages of tooth decay
The Dental Surgeon indicated that, there were four stages of tooth decay that occur in both children and adults.
She said the Enamel Caries, which is the first stage, is when cavity developes in the enamel resulting in food packing and bad breadth.
She explained that another stage known as Dentine Caries is when the cavity is extended into dentine and one begins to experience sharp pain due to intake of sweet products and cold or hot stimulus.
The Pulpal Infection, she said is another stage when the cavity progresses into pulp and one could have a spontaneous pain which keeps one awake at night.
The last process, the dentist explained was known as Apical Infection, when the contamination progresses to the apex of the tooth and may lead to pain on chewing.
Causes
According to her, sugar is a major cause of tooth decay among children which hinders their dental health and places a risk on their general health.
She indicated that an arrangement of the tooth was a factor that could cause tooth decay.
The dentist added that eating before sleeping was a cause of tooth decay mostly found in children who often ate before going to bed “bottle feeding”.
Prevention
Dr. Danquah said good oral hygiene practice by brushing the teeth twice a day could prevent one from getting tooth decay, and advised all to reduce sugar intake.
She admonished parents to teach children the proper brushing techniques which involved brushing the teeth in circles and said that one must brush the teeth or rinse the mouth after every meal and cautioned parents to ensure children rinse their mouths after eating and also inculcate the habit of taking fruits among their children.
She stressed that parents and their children should go for regular dental check-up and often go for professional cleaning of the teeth.
Complications
The Dental Surgeon said one could endure severe pains and also encounter swollen of the jaw which often led to an infection called ‘abscess’.
A form of tooth decay called ‘Ludwigs Angina’ can kill an individual.
She emphasised that tooth decay causes bad breadth among the young and old.
Dr. Danquah said tooth decay changes the colour of the teeth to brown and later changes it to black.
“The top-most dental problems include, tooth decay, periodontitis and bad breadth”, she hinted.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
The 24 Hour Economy Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunan Architectural Design Institute Group to support the planning of the Volta Economic Corridor.
The agreement aims to guide how land within the corridor will be used, design key infrastructure, and develop systems that will support large scale production.
The partnership will focus on detailed planning to make the area ready for investment and smooth business operations.
The project will include the development of agroecological parks, industrial zones, and transport networks to connect production centres to markets.
According to the Authority, proper planning is critical to building strong economic systems and expanding production across the corridor.
It noted that the collaboration with the Chinese design firm will help lay a solid foundation for industrial growth and long term development within the Volta Economic Corridor.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, has called on judges and lawyers to carry out their duties with humility, fairness, and a strong sense of responsibility.
She made the appeal during the Supreme Court at 150 celebration held at the University of Ghana, under the theme “Honouring the past, celebrating the present and defining the future.”
Addressing participants, she noted that those in the legal profession occupy positions of great power and influence, and must therefore remain humble in the discharge of their duties.
She urged both the bench and the bar to deliver justice without fear or ill will, stressing the need for fairness in handling cases.
Reflecting on the significance of the celebration, she explained that the year 1876 marks not only the establishment of the Supreme Court but also the beginning of formally trained lawyers in the Gold Coast.
The GBA President questioned what Ghana would be without the rule of law, which is upheld by judges and lawyers, adding that the country could descend into a system where only the strongest survive if justice is not properly administered.
She further encouraged legal practitioners to reflect on their responsibilities and remain committed to upholding the rule of law for the benefit of all citizens.
By: Jacob Aggrey
