Health experts advise diabetes patients to not ignore dental diseases

Oral cancer is rampant in Pakistan because of the use of pan, gutka, mainpuri, naswar, sheesha and smoking

KARACHI: Health experts have advised the diabetes patients to not ignore dental diseases as these can affect all organs of the human body.

The occurrence of oral cancer is high in Pakistan because of the use of pan, gutka, mainpuri, naswar, sheesha and smoking, the health experts said while addressing a seminar jointly organised by Colgate and Express Media Group at Avari Towers on Saturday.

The use of such things is detrimental for the diabetes patients, who were advised to clean their teeth regularly while children should ideally brush their teeth regularly and rinse their mouth with warm water every day.

Professor Marveen Hussain, diabetes expert Dr Zaman Sheikh, Prof Dr Imran Hasan, Dr Ashar Aafaq and Dr Zia Abbas among other addressed the seminar. Eesa Alvi represented Colgate while Executive Director Azfar Nizami, Associate Director Kamran Ahmed, Shahabuddin Fareedi and Tabassum Abbas represented the Express Media Group.



Prof Marveen said ignoring dental diseases leads to other diseases and complications. The diabetes patients should get their blood sugar and dental health conditions checked regularly.

Dr Zaman Sheikh said that patients should immediately consult physicians in case of even a minute infection and cavities in the teeth and swallowing in the gums. Carelessness can inflict severe damage to teeth of a diabetic and the symptoms include wobbly teeth, pain in gums during chewing of food and bad breath.

He said infected teeth of a diabetic person can negatively affect the efforts to keep the blood sugar in check.

Professor Imran Hasan, Dr Ashar Afaq and Dr Zia Abbas said the mouth cancer is spreading fast among the Pakistani youth due to increasing use of gutka and mawa. They said the treatment of cancer is very expensive and out of reach of most patients.

Spreading awareness is important specially among the children, said the speakers, adding that they should also be made aware of cleaning their teeth and mouth. They should be told that chewing chalia (betel nut) damages mouth, which can develop into a cancer later.

Doctors went on to say that children should be taken to a qualified doctor in case they feel any infection or blister in the mouth, on tongue or gums. They said there was not a single hospital that provides complete cure of mouth cancer.

Other countries have levied heavy taxes on items causing cancer, causing a sharp drop in their use, said the experts, adding that they have also imposed heavy taxes on unnecessary use of sugar in edible items.

They said the mouth cancer can be diagnosed through biopsy, however, families and patients mostly avoid undergoing the test, which is wrong.

The experts also answered the questions by the audience and were presented shields by the Express Media Group.