Why Chewing Sticks, Herbal Toothpaste Prevent Tooth Decay Better Than Chemical Toothpastes - Experts

Though, the modern chemical-based toothpaste and mouthwash have been effective in combating germs that cause tooth decay, the major challenge is the resistance of these germs to some commonly used antibiotics and other antimicrobial chemicals.

Now, experts have formulated a herbal toothpaste that can reduce, control and prevent various types of dental diseases from edible and medicinal plants. These are Syzygium aromaticum, Dennettia tripetala, and Jatropha curcas latex.

The researchers, who tested the extracts of these medicinal plants on disease causing germs, said the formulated kinds of toothpaste have better and significant antimicrobial effect when compared to commercial toothpaste.

The tested disease-causing organisms included Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mitis and Candida albicans that have been implicated in dental diseases.

For the study, toothpastes of various compositions were formulated using the ethanolic extracts of pepper fruit seeds, buds of S. aromaticum with J. curcas latex as the active ingredients and other non-bioactive ingredients.

The 2019 study published in the AMB Express involved Olugbenga Oludayo Oluwasina; Ifunanya Vivian Ezenwosu; Clement Olusola Ogidi and Victor Olusegun Oyetayo.

Commercial antibiotics such as flucloxacillin and ketoconazole were used as positive control for bacteria and yeast respectively, while sterile distilled water was used as the negative control.

All the formulated kinds of toothpaste exhibited antimicrobial property against all the tested microorganisms. Formulated toothpaste with only S. aromaticum extract seems to be much more active among the three bioactive materials used for the formulation. But, commercially produced toothpaste without any herb product has no inhibition against tested microorganisms.

They, therefore, suggested that the chemical substances in these plant extracts and latex could be useful raw material in producing toothpaste that may reduce the occurrence of microbial pathogens associated with dental diseases.

According to them, the use of medicinal and edible plants for the formulation of toothpaste should be of interest in oral care products due to the presence of compounds that are capable of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms causing oral infection.

“The adoption of herbal toothpaste by consumers and dentists will safeguard the side effect of oral care products containing synthetic compounds and reduce the cost of treatment,” they stated.

Syzygium aromaticum is commonly called clove. It is used in preparing Nigerian pepper soup with meats and fishes. Dennettia tripetala is pepper fruit. Jatropha curcas has been used as a traditional toothbrush in some places and used for various trado-medicines.

Meanwhile, Nigerian researchers have also demonstrated that three local chewing sticks performed better than fluoride-based and conventional kinds of toothpaste in preventing tooth decay.

The study, published in British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research was entitled “A Study of the Anticaries Activity of Three Common Chewing Sticks and Two Brands of Toothpaste in South West Nigeria”.

It included Odeleye Olubola Florence; Okunye Olufemi Lionel; Kesi Christopher; and Abatan Temitope Olubunmi, all from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State,

The researchers evaluated three common chewing sticks – Fagara zanthoxyloides, Vernonia amygdalina and Massularia accuminata- and two brands of toothpaste in southwest Nigeria for the ability to control caries-causing bacteria.

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Fagara zanthoxyloides) is called orin ata in Yoruba. Veronica amygdaline commonly called bitter leaf. Commonly called Chewing stick, Massularia acuminata is called pako-ijebu, orin-ijebu in Yoruba and atu uhie in Igbo.

The results showed that the ethanol extracts of Fagara zanthoxyloides showed the highest anti-caries activity followed by Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and then Massularia acuminata (MA).

They concluded: “The chewing sticks used in this study showed good antimicrobial activity against the isolates and could provide better care than fluoride kinds of toothpaste. The active compounds if isolated would be good caries-controlling components of herbal kinds of toothpaste.

”The active constituents in the ethanol extracts of the chewing sticks will be useful as anti-caries components of herbal kinds of toothpaste which are becoming common in the market.”

The use of chewing stick is still being practised in some part of the world such as Africa, South Asia, an isolated area in America and Southern United State, owing to some unique characteristics such as foaminess, hardness and bitterness.

Some of these chewing sticks have been shown to possess varying degrees of antimicrobial activity against germs that cause dental diseases. This indicates, therefore, that the chewing sticks, in addition to providing mechanical stimulation of the gums, also destroy microbes, a feature which is absent in the common toothpaste and brush method. This advantage of the chewing sticks over the conventional toothpaste and brush could explain why many Africans have strong teeth.

Some African chewing sticks have also been reported to contain fluoride ions, silicon, tannic acid, sodium bicarbonate and other natural plaque-inhibiting substances that can reduce bacterial colonisation and plaque formation.

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8 Ways To Get A Younger Looking Neck

Article From Penelope Andersan

The skin on our necks is thinner than the skin on our faces and it’s exposed to the same wear and tear. So what are you doing about your neck?

You have your anti-aging skincare routine down to a science, you never leave the house without wearing vitamin c serum and sunscreen, and at night you refuse to let your face touch the pillow without applying under-eye treatment and moisturizer. But what are you doing about your neck?

Americans spend so much effort preventing signs of aging like creasing and wrinkling in the space between their chins and foreheads. In reality, the neck often starts to look older long before crow’s feet enter the picture. The skin on our necks is thinner than the skin on our faces and it’s exposed to the same wear and tear. Unfortunately, it also tends to get a lot less TLC, if any at all.

“Over time, skin loses collagen and elastin,” says New York City plastic surgeon Benjamin Paul, MD. Dr. Paul explains smoking and sun damage can also further accelerate aging of the skin on the neck. Those aren't the only causes of neck aging. As we get older, laxity in the neck occurs due to a loss of support from connective tissue and muscle. This leads to what we commonly call a “waddle” or “turkey neck" and looks like loose skin under our chin.

The appearance of sagging skin on the neck can affect everyone. Repeated pulling of the platysma muscle, which is the muscle men often flex while shaving, tugs on the overlying skin and causes it to wrinkle over time. According to Dr. Paul, thyroid or neck surgery also loosens the neck and can contribute to an older appearance.

While there’s not much we can do about getting older, it is possible to slow down the physical signs of aging. Here are some ways you can prevent future sagging skin and promote a younger-looking neck.

Protect Your Skin From the Sun

It’s common knowledge that sun exposure causes major damage to your skin. This includes the delicate skin on your neck, which is one of the first places the signs of aging can take hold. According to Dr. Paul, the single best thing you can do to preserve a youthful neck and prevent sagging skin, age spots, and fine lines is to wear sunscreen.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF of at least 30 because it blocks 97 percent of the sun’s damaging UVB rays. Apply sunscreen to your face and neck every morning before putting on your makeup, whether you’re spending the day indoors or outside. Remember to reapply every few hours to make sure your skin is always protected.

Add a Retinoid To Your Skincare Routine

If you’re an anti-aging veteran, your medicine cabinet is likely stocked with skincare products that promise to reduce wrinkles and give you a smooth, tight complexion. There is a huge variety of creams, for instance, that help moisturize the neck. Do they actually work? “In my experience,” says Dr. Paul, “the benefit of neck creams is quite limited.” Unless it contains a retinoid.

Retinoids, a class of ingredients that includes retinol, retinyl palmitate, and retinoic acid, can repair sun damage by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing the skin texture, and evening the skin tone. They do it by boosting collagen production and stimulating cell turnover deep within the skin.

“Retinoids are potent, but they may be irritating,” says Dr. Paul. To minimize irritation, apply a retinoid to clean skin at night and wait a few minutes before layering on moisturizer. Because the skin on the neck is thinner than it is on the face, start with a small amount of retinoid and build up slowly. If you've never used one, a dermatologist can guide you in selecting the right product.

Shrink Your Double Chin

If you’re worried about a double chin, a non-invasive treatment called Kybella® could help restore the youthful neck you desire. Kybella® is a non-surgical treatment that involves a series of deoxycholic acid injections which target and destroy fat cells in the chin. There are no incisions with Kybella® and most patients experience minimal downtime.

While the acid in Kybella® does destroy fat cells, which are metabolized and eliminated by the body naturally, it won’t help with turkey neck. “Kybella® does not change the skin of the neck or laxity that may be present in the platysma,” Dr. Paul explains. To remove sagging skin after Kybella® treatment, a skin-tightening or surgical procedure may be necessary.

Reduce Wrinkles Caused By Aging and Sun Damage

We know Botox® works to reduce lines and wrinkles on the face. Similarly, Botox® can be injected into the submental area and jawline to give a “lift” to an aging neck. “Botox® may reduce vertical cording or banding on the neck that is caused by platysma muscle contraction,” says Dr. Paul. The treatment promotes a more youthful neck by relaxing the muscles that pull on the overlying skin and create wrinkles. The results of Botox® last between four and six months, and the treatment can be performed in as little as 15 minutes. It's best on vertical lines, though. Botox® will have little, if any, effect on horizontal lines which are formed on the neck through skin creasing.

Embrace Technology to Improve Sagging Skin

It can be challenging to treat sagging skin with topical products alone. At the same time, many patients are hesitant to go under the knife to correct loose neck skin. Luckily there are several professional skin tightening options that can give them the results they desire without surgery.

“Radiofrequency and ultrasound devices aim to tighten the neck with energy,” says Dr. Paul. The treatments have been shown to tighten loose neck skin by using energy to heat the skin and boosts the production of collagen and important proteins. However, Dr. Paul cautions that the effects of these devices is limited and patients may need multiple treatments to see results.

Go Under the Laser, Not the Knife

We know lasers can reduce unwanted hair and remove tattoos, but these incredible devices can also be used to rejuvenate the skin and promote a more youthful look. Laser resurfacing involves directing short, concentrated, pulsating beams of light at the face or neck to remove damaged skin layer by layer.

With laser resurfacing, “the goal is to improve lines, texture, and surface irregularities,” says Dr. Paul. There are two types of lasers commonly used in skin resurfacing: ablative CO2 lasers and non-ablative (fraxel) lasers. “There is more tightening with ablative lasers, though there is a higher risk of neck scarring,” Dr. Paul cautions. “Choose your laser doctor carefully.”

Try Intense Pulsed Light Therapy For Dark Spots

If you have dark spots on your neck, you’re looking at the results of sun damage. Luckily, you don’t have to live with age spots forever. Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) is similar to a laser treatment in that it uses energy to treat wrinkles, dark spots, and sun damage. But it’s different because it releases many different wavelengths of light, so is more scattered and less targeted. During an IPL treatment, pigment in the skin absorbs the light, which is converted to heat. The heat then destroys the unwanted pigment to fade the appearance of red and brown spots. According to Dr. Paul, it may take between three and five IPL treatments to see results.

When Surgery is The Best Option

Non-invasive treatments can dramatically improve the appearance of a double chin and wrinkles, age spots, and fine lines on the neck. If you have loose or sagging skin, however, you might be best treated with surgery. Options for cosmetic neck surgery include liposuction of the neck to reduce fat or a neck lift to tighten the skin and muscle (platysmaplasty).

According to Dr. Paul, a neck lift in conjunction with a deep plane facelift is the gold standard in restoring a youthful neck and jawline. In this procedure, the deep tissues of the neck are dissected and supported to lift sagging skin on the neck and jowls. A deep plane face and neck lift is performed under general anesthesia in an operating room. The results are natural looking and can last up to 10 to 12 years.

Penelope Andersan is from the Content Partnerships Team of The AEDITION, an online publication created by new, aesthetic enhancement platform AEDIT. AEDIT is a next-generation, go-to source for anyone looking to continue or begin their medial aesthetic journey.

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How Sleep Disorder Could Lead To Musculoskeletal Pain

A physiotherapist, Dr. Adegoke Akinfeleye, has said that sleep disorder or unstable sleep pattern can lead to musculoskeletal pain in the body. He said that lack of physical exercise, bad diet, and poor sleeping surface are major drivers of sleep disorders.

Akinfeleye made the remarks recently at a press conference and media tour of Mouka Foam industry Lagos, citing that scientific evidence has been able to link sleep disorder and pain.

He said: “it is also known that not having enough sleep develops pains because a person with sleep disorder becomes more pain sensitive. The major cause of difficulty in sleeping is sleeping on the wrong surface. People must learn to sleep on an appropriate bed and know when to change their mattresses and pillows.”

To avoid unnecessary pains and compounded problem the expert urged the populace to pay attention to how and when they sleep and to ensure good sleep hygiene.

He continued: “There many things that can determine sleep ethics. People who have low back pain are likely to have sleep disorders; it is also known that people who have sleep disorders have low back pain. There is a reciprocal association between sleep and pain.”

Akinfeleye said an adult should sleep between seven to nine hours in a day in other to wake up refreshed and energised

The physiotherapist said that it is not good to sleep too much and also not good to sleep for a shorter period because it affects human memory.

He noted that irregular sleep pattern is a huge problem, “Sometimes we sleep at 9 pm, another day at 11 pm. It is advisable to have a regular sleep routine and also sleep in a comfortable environment,” he said.

Akinfeleye continued: “When you do not sleep for the duration of hours ought to, it affects the memory, the endocrine system and for every activity. In an experiment when animals are deprived of sleep, they die. If such is replicated in a man, he will cease to live. It is important we sleep like we eat and drink.

The Managing Director, Mouka Foam, Mr. Raymond Murphy, said that Mouka foam would maintain its stand as the number one producers of healthy mattresses and pillows for quality sleep.

“Mouka foam has for 60 years now become a household name in Nigeria and will continue to ensure its products attain reasonable customer satisfaction,” he added.

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People Who Are Susceptible To Asthma Should Avoid Cats, Cockroaches

As Nigeria joins other nations of the world to mark the World Asthma Day on yesterday, experts have cautioned people susceptible to Asthma to shun trigger of the disease such as cockroaches, cats, and smoke.

President, Nigerian Society for Asthmatics, UCH branch, Professor Olusoji Ige spoke at a market rally in Ibadan to commemorate the day and to sensitize on proper asthma management.

The don stated that anything that gives aerosol such as smoke from kerosine stove, dust mites, strong smells, and fryings can cause trouble for asthmatics.

The consultant chest physician declared avoiding such triggers and adequate use of their medications will ensure they live free of asthma symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness and frequent hospital visits as well as to attain a good quality of life.

Professor Ige stated that asthma prevalence in Nigeria varies from North to South and on the average, about 10.7 percent of Nigerians has asthma.

He added “About 300 million suffer from asthma globally. There is an estimated 250,000 annual worldwide death from asthma. These deaths which occur in those older than 45years old are largely preventable.”

The expert, however, lamented that government was not doing much to support people living with asthma.

“The country is not really taking care of people who are asthmatic. The inhalers are very expensive and many asthmatics are old. About 20 percent of asthmatics are able to cope with the cost of their medications.”

Mrs Grace Adekoya, an assistant director, public health nursing officer at UCH, Ibadan stressed the need to keep substances with a strong smell like detergents away from the living area to prevent asthmatic attacks.

She urged people to dissuade with symptoms of asthma such as wheezing, difficulty breathing and tightness of chest to visit the hospital early for treatment.

Mrs Adekoya added, “it is not about taking drugs for asthma, it also requires that asthmatics understand the disease and to avoid things that trigger asthma attacks in them so that the disease does not affect their day to day living.”

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Poisonous Ponmo In The Market: Six People Arrested In Lagos

Policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command have arrested six suspects in possession of poisonous cow skin (ponmo).

The spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos that the suspects were arrested following a police tip-off.

“On May 5, at about 5 a.m, acting on the strength of information from a credible source that a truckload of cow skins, popularly called ‘ponmo’, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse at No. 9, College Road, Igando.

“A team of Police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer Igando, mobilised to the scene.

“The huge pillage and pyramid of poisonous ponmo and the chemicals used in the preservation of the cow skins were recovered.

“One TATA Truck with registration number AKD-375-XB which was used in conveying the goods was impounded.

“Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health were contacted and after due examination, the cow skins were confirmed to be poisonous and not fit for human consumption.

“Six suspects Adelowo Yinka 50, Olawumi Onabanjo 40, Omowumi Wasiu 43, Adeshokan Taiwo 43, Iyabo Oluwa 38 and Taye Kazeem 40yrs were arrested in connection with the case.’’

The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command assured Lagosians that the Command will continue to protect life and property of the people.

Mr Muazu also assured that the command would ensure the preservation of public health and safety as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Earlier, the Lagos State Government had alerted residents of the state to the circulation of “poisonous ponmo" in some markets in the state.

A statement by Adeola Salako, Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, noted that the government had so far arrested three person involved in the selling of the “poisonous ponmo”.

Ponmo, as it is popularly known in Nigeria, is cow skin, specially prepared for consumption.

He revealed that the suspects were arrested at Ojo and Iba Local Government Areas of the state with large quantities of ponmo and that the seized ponmo have been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in order for tests to be carried out to check if they are okay for consumption.

The statement read: “The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this in his office today (Sunday) while reviewing report of preliminary investigation and enforcement carried out on the sale of the toxic ponmo in the areas, stated that the three persons involved had been charged to court, while samples of the confiscated ponmohad been sent to the NAFDAC laboratory for suitability test analysis for human consumption."

The commissioner further said the traders engaged in the sale of these poisonous products do business at odd hours in various locations in two Local Government Areas.

“Preliminary investigations and suspects tracing revealed that the traders were very active between 4am and 6am at various locations such as Volkswagen bus stop, Iyana Iba, Afolabi Ege Markets, all within the Ojo local government and Iba local council areas of the state.

“Furthermore, a company said to be located at the Ijedodo area of Iba LCDA was indicted as the source of supply of this toxic ponmo and has subsequently been put under surveillance."

Salako went on to urge the public to be careful and not hesitate to report to environmental health officers in their nearest local government or to the ministry of health any sale of foods and foods products that are not up to required standard.

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Malaria Trial Vaccine: Nigerians Anxiously Waiting For Result

The Federal Government says it is anxiously waiting for the result of pilot RTSS/ASO1, the World’s first anti-malaria vaccine, recently introduced in Malawi.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, revealed this at the commemoration of 2019 World Malaria Day (WMD) in Abuja yesterday.

Adewole said that the success of the vaccine would catalyze global efforts at eliminating malaria.

He noted that Nigeria was responsible for 25 percent of the global malaria burden and 19 per cent of global deaths from malaria.

He further said that despite waiting for the success of the trial vaccine, more commitments were being made by the country with the help of its development partners to eliminate the scourge.

“We are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation.

“Some of these include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project, and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programme,” he said.

He said that every Nigerian has a role to play in the effort to end the scourge of malaria, from the artisan on the street to the Chief Executive in the office.

“There are simple things that we can do like keeping our environment clean, sleep inside the Long lasting Insecticidal Nets, when feverish please go for a test and if positive ensure that you are treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).

“Malaria is still a public health challenge. According to the World Malaria Report, Nigeria still accounts for 25 per cent of the global malaria burden.

“We also account for 19 per cent of deaths from malaria. Though funding for malaria control has remained relatively stable since 2010.

“We need to improve on the level of our investment to achieve a reduction of at least 40 per cent in malaria case incidence and mortality rates globally by 2020.”

Adewole noted that the WMD celebration provides the opportunity to review our strategies and up the tempo with a view to reducing significantly the burden of malaria in our country.

“Let me inform you that we are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation.

“Some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programme.

“In 2018, President Mohammadu Buhari approved an incentive funding of $18.5 million for procurement of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN). We carried out LLINs replacement campaigns in eight States.

“In order to ensure malaria commodities availability, a national quantification exercise was conducted in conjunction with states and other partners,” he added.

Adewole also noted that the federal government was in the process of setting up an expert group comprising of researchers in the field of malaria to provide guidance on country strategies for malaria elimination.

According to him, the process of Malaria Programme Review (MPR), a holistic review of malaria programme implementation in the country is on-going and the outcome would inform changes in strategies and interventions where necessary.

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