Chewing Stick Is Better Than Toothbrush

The Head of Dental Department at the State Specialist
Hospital, Okitipupa in Ondo State, Dr Segun Adegoke,
has said that chewing sticks are better for cleaning
the teeth than tooth brush.

Adegoke said that chewing sticks contained anti-
microbacterial substance called ‘tannin’ which was
the same as fluoride in toothpastes.

He said the natural ‘tannin’ helped to fight bacteria in
the mouth, maintained the gums, made the teeth
stronger and improved the oral hygiene more than
tooth brushes.

“Our aged parents use chewing sticks and even at 60
years of age, their teeth are stronger than that of the
youth of today,” he said. “Why many people choose
tooth brush is because it is faster to use and they
also hold the belief that chewing stick is outdated.

I think chewing sticks are better than tooth brushes
because the tannin in it helps in various ways to keep
the teeth cleaner, fresher and stronger.”

He, however, said that the only advantage tooth
brush had over chewing stick was its ability to get to
the corners of the mouth.