A beautiful smile is one of the most noticeable things about a person and it also adds to a person’s confidence.
To maintain your beautiful smile into adulthood, a proper oral hygiene routine should be adopted at an early age.
Dr Amanda Nduli, who works as a dentist in private practice, has taken it upon himself to aid people, especially children, who cannot afford to have their teeth washed or polished.
He believes children need good dental hygiene habits to ensure the development of strong, healthy teeth.
As a recipient of the metro’s Grant-in-Aid funding, Nduli, who runs Amanda Nduli Dental Surgery and Associates (ANDSA) through the funding received from the metro, is now able to create beautiful smiles in underprivileged communities by teaching proper teeth brushing techniques.
“We often find that in most homes and NGOs we visit, the children have poor oral hygiene and some do not even own a toothbrush.
“However, it is fulfilling to know that once we visit a facility, we leave at least one child or more with tools that can boost their confidence for life,” Nduli said.
“By following proper brushing techniques and a routine, one would not need to visit a dentist to get their teeth washed, as they would have been doing it right from a young age.”
The oral hygiene coaching offered by ANDSA is not only limited to schools but also extended to old age homes, crèches, orphanages and any other facilities identified by Ekurhuleni social workers who care for the underprivileged.
During the visits, Nduli and his team demonstrate effective tooth brushing at home for children as young as two years old and give away toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste and mouthwash.
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One of the most important things parents need to be cognisant of is to ensure the toothbrush and toothpaste are suitable for their child’s age as a rough brush damages one’s gums and adult toothpaste given to a child threatens to damage the enamel of their teeth.
This can be done by paying attention to the age stipulated on the toothpaste and brush packages.
“Poor oral hygiene can be a hidden addition to poor self-confidence but this can be prevented among young and old Ekurhuleni residents who we encourage to make use of the dental health services offered for free at clinics across the metro,” said the MMC for Community Services, Clr Dora Mlambo.
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