As for many Nigerians, sharp pain in the teeth or toothache, as many people like to call it, there is no need to worry. But this may not be the problem, as Titu Anu recently discovered.
For many people, sharp pain in the teeth or toothache, like many people don't usually call it, is a mild illness, something like the tip of an iceberg to categorize dangerous diseases. But without realizing it, lots of cakes must be eaten and conditions that deserve urgent attention.
According to the Journal of Endodontics between 2000 and 2008 in the United States, "there were more than 61,000 national hospitalizations due to periapical abscesses, infections at the root tip of the teeth which were common symptoms of tooth decay. Teeth Of more than 61,000, 66 patients died
This may seem very far to Nigerians, especially when many of them usually carry out their daily routines, despite feeling sick, assuming they will eventually be exhausted. But Tope Lawal, a dental student at the University of Lagos Hospital, LUTH, who is currently working on his thesis, disagrees.
Lawal cited three cases of his findings, which he said occurred within two weeks. One of them, he said, was the case of a 27-year-old man who died from taking a dangerous mixture, which he bought on a bus. It is assumed that the mixture should function as a medicine for pain, but unfortunately it causes death due to its acid content. The second case is the case of a woman at Mushin, Lagos, who postponed treatment, which caused constant anxiety during the day and insomnia at night. In the end, lack of rest and sleep caused his death.
Toothache Death How?
Therefore, the question arises: how can acute tooth pain cause death?
According to Lawal, the answer is quite simple. There are five stages that rotten teeth must pass before heading to death. The first stage is tooth decay, also known as a hole in the teeth as a result of bacterial infection. At this stage the demineralization of the tooth structure is handled. Then, it moves to Reversible Pulpitis, which is pulp inflammation. At this stage, the patient feels short and sharp pain every time he eats or drinks cold or hot food. Then scream into the pulpitis that cannot be cured. At this point, the pain stays longer, interferes with the patient's activity, so he cannot sleep. Anxiety manifests during the day and insomnia at night. After insomnia is formed, there is a problem.
Then the fourth stage appears, namely apical periodontitis. This is a very important stage because inflammation has spread to the roots of the teeth. At this point, the patient cannot use teeth to eat, the dentist hits or touches the teeth and the patient yells for sharp pain.
Finally, there is Ludwig Angina, which is the fifth stage of the most deadly tooth pain. At this stage, the infection has spread to the orofacial space, leaving a large swelling around the patient's jaw. The patient cannot breathe easily. In addition, the language will appear. If not treated for a short period of twenty-four hours, there is a possibility that the patient can lose his life.
Statistics have shown from time to time that many people pay less attention to tooth pain due to several factors: poverty, self-medication, traditional medicine, among others. The idea of traditional solutions is very important. Many Nigerians buy herbal ingredients to cure toothache, without knowing the contents of the drug. Sometimes, the effect of the herb is brutal because it damages the teeth.
When exploring self-medication, people who suffer from toothache use salt and water; Some even use water from batteries. Maybe, without realizing it, the liquid in the battery, which they call battery water, is acid and the effect on the teeth can be deadly.
Some, because of bad advice, get certain strange leaves and apply juice or secretions, hoping it will cure the pain. While the effectiveness of nature may not be ignored, the truth is that self-medication and unorthodox methods can be wrong and cause death.
Poverty is another important factor. Many Nigerians complain about hospital bills and prefer to look for cheaper but more dangerous ways. They prefer to buy one hundred naira medicine to go to the dentist.
Exit
Lawal advises patients to use the nearest government health facility for toothache and other diseases they consider small, because you never know. According to him, government hospitals are free, unless someone has to pay cards for medicines not available.
According to a source at a government health center in Lagos, "Nigerians only go to the clinic when the case worsens and there is no medicine to do."
Sources also recommend direct control at the nearest dental clinic, scaling and polishing teeth every six months, avoiding self-medication, avoiding excessive intake of sweet foods such as chocolate, cakes, ice cream; Brush your teeth regularly, in the morning and evening, with a medium texture toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. This will prevent any form of toothache in someone
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