By Onilede Titi Faith
The President of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Emedom Elias, has advised Nigerians to stop harmful oral habits, warning that the mouth is too delicate for practices such as using the teeth to open bottles.
Speaking at the association’s 58th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abuja, Elias said such habits can cause tooth fractures, gum injuries, and other serious complications.
He stressed that quality dental care depends on access to modern equipment, sustained public awareness, and regular patient visits, noting that inadequate funding remains a major challenge in the sector.
Elias also lamented the scarcity of dental facilities in rural areas, where most communities lack access to basic oral healthcare.
He urged the government to integrate dental services into primary healthcare centres to improve nationwide access.
