27 Jan 2022

Tooth decay is the most prevalent oral disease in the Ngami health district.

Speaking at an Oral Health Commemoration Day at Boro in the North West District on January 26, Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital Superintendent Dr Lebogang Mokotedi said last year about 12 000 patients were screened for common oral diseases and tooth decay was the leading disease followed by Periodontitis.

She therefore appealed to people in Ngami district to guard against tooth decay.

She observed that healthy teeth played a major role in a person’s life like boosting one’s confidence.

Dr Lebogang Mokotedi said contributors to common oral diseases included too much intake of sugar, alcohol as well smoking which contributed to oral cancer.

To prevent common oral diseases she said Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital has measures in place such as oral health awareness activities, school visits and visits to Safari Companies in the far to reach areas.

Dr Mokotedi said that the hospital also had a programme called Project Village whereby one village in the district was chosen to take health services to. She said Boro settlement was chosen for Oral Health and about 350 people of Boro were screened for common oral diseases of which 70 had tooth decay while 120 had Periodontitis.

Letsholathebe hospital dentist Dr Pako Powe encouraged people to visit dentistry twice a year to guard against oral diseases and decayed tooth removed if necessary, and highlighted importance of healthy teeth since replacing decayed teeth was costly. ENDS