He said this during at the Oral Health Day Commemoration held at Lobatse on Tuesday, held under theme, ‘Let us Think Mouth, Think Health’. He said reports from local oral health facilities indicate tooth decay and gum diseases as the top most prevalent oral diseases affecting school children and adults. He pointed out that despite being easily preventable, those diseases still cause suffering to majority of the local population. “Oral diseases are significant non communicable diseases (NCDs). With untreated tooth decay being the single most prevalent and preventable disease, and oral cancer among the 10 most common cancers globally. The modifiable risk factors of oral diseases include an unhealthy alcohol consumption and poor oral hygiene,” he noted. He further highlighted that those risk factors were also shared with most of the other major NCDs. Madigele explained oral conditions were the fourth most expensive to treat. He therefore pointed out that awareness raising and early detection were vital in reducing costs that may be incurred treating oral diseases and conditions.
He said his ministry was working hard to promote, achieve and maintain acceptable oral health within the communities through the practice of self-reliance and self-care by individuals and communities. He said the ministry took a deliberate move of intensifying primary health care services where individuals and community takes account and participate in their own health. “We all owe it to ourselves to take personal responsibility for our health. Simple steps such as regular dental checkups, reducing the intake of sugary foods and drinks and limiting our consumption to meal times; practising good oral hygiene as well as cutting down on tobacco use and intake of alcohol will go a long way in preventing dental diseases,” he said.
