Point Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, 1(2): 036-041 September, 2015.
Available online at http://www.pjournals.org/PJMMR
ISSN 2467-8813 @ 2015 Point Journals International
Received 06 August, 2015; Accepted 31 August, 2015; Published 03 September, 2015
Full Length Research
Traditional remedies used in the treatment of dental
ailments: A case study of Otakeme Community in
Bayelsa State
Ephraim-Emmanuel, B.C.1*, Dotimi, D.A.2, Apiakise, E.W.2, Arogo, A.3, Diekedie, A.3 and
Abali, E.W.2
1
Department of Dental Health Science, Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, Ogbia, Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State, Nigeria.
2
Department of Community Health Sciences, Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, Ogbia, Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
3
Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, Ogbia, Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
The use of traditional methods in the treatment of medical and dental conditions and ailments
continues to increase in different parts of the world mainly due to their perceived effectiveness,
affordability and accessibility. It was the aim of this study to determine the traditional forms of
treatment used in the treatment of dental ailments in Otakeme Community of Bayelsa State. A
prospective cross-sectional study was utilized in carrying out this study in which a structured
questionnaire was distributed to 175 respondents whom voluntarily opted to be part of this study after
their informed consent was sought. Questions asked sought to determine what traditional treatments
were used for dental ailments in our study area. Toothache n=55 (32.1%) was a major dental ailment
experienced in our study area. Remedies used in resolving the ailments included the use of local gin or
dental powder to wash the mouth, the use of herbs, diluted acid and snuff, salt water as well as
charcoal. Affordability (35%) was selected by the respondents as the major reason for the use of these
traditional medical practices. 25% of the respondents however had no reason for the use of these
traditional remedies. Traditional remedies used in the treatment of dental ailments in Otakeme
Community of Bayelsa State included the use of local gin, herbs, charcoal as well as salt water.
Affordability was also the major reason for the use of these traditional remedies.
Key words: Traditional remedies, treatment, dental ailments.
Citation: Ephraim-Emmanuel, B.C., Dotimi, D.A., Apiakise, E.W., Arogo, A., Diekedie, A. and Abali, E.W. (2015).
Traditional remedies used in the treatment of dental ailments: A case study of Otakeme community in Bayelsa State.
Point J. Med. Med. Res. 1(2): 036-041
INTRODUCTION
Traditional medicine in Nigeria despite opposition from easy accessibility, affordability as well as perceived
modernized professionals continues to be sought by effectiveness by those who patronize this form of medical
majority of individuals residing in Nigeria especially within practice. Traditional medicine has been defined by the
rural dwellings as a major source treatment in the event World Health Organization as the total combination of
of illness or disease. This has been largely related to its knowledge and practices, whether explicable or not, used
037 Point J. Med. Med. Res.
in diagnosing, preventing or eliminating physical, mental apparent difficulty in advising the teeming number of
or social diseases and which may rely exclusively on past individuals who patronize the traditional medical practice
experience and observation handed down from to desist from such patronage (Adefolaju, 2014; Bamidele
generation to generation, verbally or in writing (Iyalomhe et al., 2009; Ogunshe, 2007). The dental practice had in
and Iyalomhe, 2012; Adefolaju, 2014). The practice of times past had its fair share of the application of
traditional medicine carried out mainly by herbalists, traditional medicine which is still presently obtainable in
traditional birth attendants, psychiatrists etc; has been some parts of the world. This application includes the use
described as a natural system of health care that has of acupuncture and herbal mixtures in resolving dental
been used over the years by many, either as the only pain, the use of herbal medications in treating dental and
treatment modality or in combination with orthodox periodontal infections as well as the use of mineral
treatment modalities which has been attributed to the substances in relieving certain dental ailments and
notion that traditional medicine treats not just a part of an conditions (Adefolaju, 2014; Nwauzoma and Magdalene,
individual or his disease but also treats the whole 2013; Palle and Viggo, 2002; Goldstein, 2000).
individual. The existence of traditional medicine is in four The use of traditional medicine in relieving dental
major categories, including nature healing, natural ailments cannot be denied and has indeed been
healing, spiritual healing as well as herbal healing which observed in Otakeme Community located in Bayelsa
involves the use of fruits, stem, roots or even the leaves State, Nigeria. The absence of published reports to
of plants. Nature healing differs from natural healing in objectively quantify trado-medical practices utilized in
that nature healing involves hydrotherapy, use of fire etc resolving dental ailments in this area prompted the
and natural healing deals more with telepathy as well as carrying out of this study which was to determine the
incantations (Iyalomhe and Iyalomhe, 2012; Adefolaju, traditional remedies used in treating dental ailments in
2014; Awoyemi et al., 2012; Bamidele et al., 2009). the area. This study provided credible data required for
The practice of traditional medicine has been shown to dental health planning and execution not just within our
be effective over the years in the treatment of variety of study area but in other parts of the globe which share the
disease conditions and ailments affecting different organ belief systems practiced within this area.
systems of the body including the region of the oral
cavity. The peculiarities in belief systems and practices in
different societies however plays a role in the behaviour MATERIALS AND METHODS
and attitudes of the society members on how they use
traditional therapy in resolving disease conditions which A prospective cross-sectional study design was used to
they experience. The influence of civilization and western determine the traditional medical practices utilized in
education however continues to play a role in remodeling resolving dental ailments in Otakeme Community located
these belief systems and attitudes. Apart from its in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State,
affordability and accessibility in various parts of the globe, Nigeria. Otakeme indigenes speak the Ogbia dialect and
the practice of traditional medicine had also proved their main occupation is fishing and farming. After
effective when orthodox medicine seemed to have failed grouping the Community into different strata, a structured
especially in cases of drug resistance by certain ailments. questionnaire which was scrutinized for content validity
The presence of minimal or absent side effects by a qualified dental professional and declared valid to
associated with the use of traditional medicine had also answer our research questions on the traditional medical
aided the increasing and widespread use of this form of practices used in remedying dental ailments in this
medicine. Certain orthodox medications had also been Community as well as the reasons for the patronage of
reported to be gotten from traditional sources including these practices was distributed to 175 respondents who
herbs (Iyalomhe and Iyalomhe, 2012; Bamidele et al., consented to be part of this study. Data analysis was
2009; Falodun, 2010; Ojua et al., 2013; Nwauzoma and carried out using the GraphPad Prism statistical software.
Magdalene, 2013).
It is worthy to note that despite the efficacy and positive
outcomes of the practice of traditional medicine, the RESULTS
practice is accompanied with its attendant negative
impacts due to lack of knowledge of how safe the For this study, 175 questionnaires were distributed and
practices are; as they have no approved drug testing 172 (98.3%) were recovered from the respondents. 89
trials, non-proficiency in diagnosis making, errors in (52.0%) respondents were male and 82 (48.0%) were
physical examination due to lack of required equipments female. Respondents were within an age range of 12
needed for objective physical examination as well as the years to 88 years. On inquisition about dental ailments
non-regulation of the activities of the traditional medical experienced in the past, toothache, periodontal diseases,
practitioners. This however should be a point of research mouth odour and tooth discolouration had been
in order to be able to adopt these practices which have experienced by the respondents (Table 1).
indeed proven to be effective as there would be an For each dental ailment inquired about, interesting
Ephraim-Emmanuel et al. 038
Table 1. Distribution of Dental ailments experienced by respondents in Otakeme Community.
Dental ailments experienced Frequency Percentage
Tooth ache 55 32.1
Tooth discolouration 42 24.5
Periodontal disease 20 11.7
Mouth odour 14 8.2
Periodontal disease and tooth discolouration 1 0.6
Tooth ache and periodontal disease 19 11.1
Mouth odour and tooth discolouration 2 1.2
Periodontal disease and mouth odour 1 0.6
Tooth ache and tooth discolouration 9 5.3
Tooth ache, periodontal disease and tooth discolouration 6 3.5
No ailment 2 1.2
Total 171 100.0
Table 2. Traditional remedies used in resolving tooth ache in Otakeme Community.
Remedy Frequency Percentage (%)
Washed mouth with water 4 4.3
Washed mouth with salt and water 30 32.6
Washed mouth with local gin 7 7.6
Washed my teeth using dental powder 6 6.5
Washed mouth with salt water and dental powder 2 2.2
Washed mouth with salt water, local gin, dental powder and herbs 1 1.1
Washed mouth with herbs 7 7.6
Used snuff to resolve the ache 1 1.1
Used diluted acid and snuff to resolve the ache 1 1.1
Used salt water and local gin to resolve the ache 1 1.1
I did nothing 5 5.4
Applied menthol on tooth to resolve the ache 1 1.1
Used orthodox remedies but still used dental powder, snuff 2 2.2
Used only orthodox remedies by visiting the dental clinic for treatment 24 26.1
or visiting the local chemist
responses on traditional (non-clinical) remedies used in medicine to determine its level of use, efficacy and
resolving the ailments included the use of local gin or disadvantages, the more findings are made to establish
dental powder to wash the mouth, the use of herbs, the fact that the practice and use of traditional medicine
diluted acid and snuff, salt water, charcoal etc., (Tables 2 as a source of remedy for medical and dental health
to 5). illnesses around the world especially in developing
Affordability (35%) was selected by the respondents as countries is increasingly being used. This has being
the major reason for the use of these traditional medical attributed widely to unavailability of orthodox medicines
practices. Other reasons selected included the absence and when available is usually not affordable, poor
of a dental clinic in the Community as well as that they economic status of certain areas in developing countries,
worked faster than other remedies. 25% of the inaccessibility to modern health care services as well as
respondents however had no reason for the use of these the culture and norms of these areas. Our study area in
traditional remedies (Figure 1). Otakeme Community of Bayelsa State, Nigeria also
shares in this ordeal faced by inhabitants of developing
countries as there is a widespread use of traditional
DISCUSSION
medical methods in the treatment of dental ailments as
The more research is done in the field of traditional compared to the meagre use of modern health practice
039 Point J. Med. Med. Res.
Table 3. Traditional remedies used in resolving tooth discolouration in Otakeme Community.
Remedy Frequency Percentage (%)
Used charcoal 15 24.2
Used chewing stick 19 30.6
Used charcoal and chewing stick 9 14.5
Used charcoal and salt 2 3.2
Used local gin 4 6.5
Used chewing stick and local gin 1 1.6
Washed mouth with toothbrush and toothpaste 6 9.7
Visited the dental clinic for treatment 2 3.2
Did nothing 4 6.5
Table 4. Traditional remedies used in resolving periodontal disease in Otakeme Community.
Remedy Frequency Percentage (%)
Washed mouth with salt water 7 14.6
Washed mouth with local gin 11 22.9
Washed mouth with snuff and local gin 1 2.1
Washed mouth with salt, water and local gin 1 2.1
Washed mouth with salt and petrol 1 2.1
Used herbs to resolve the problem 4 8.3
Washed mouth with dental powder 2 4.2
Washed mouth with salt, water and dental powder 2 4.2
Washed mouth snuff and herbs 5 10.4
Washed mouth with salt water, local gin and herbs 1 2.1
Washed mouth with snuff and diluted acid 1 2.1
Washed mouth with tooth brush and tooth paste 1 2.1
Visited the dental clinic or the local chemist for treatment 9 18.8
Did nothing 2 4.2
Table 5. Traditional remedies used in resolving mouth odour in Otakeme Community.
Remedy Frequency Percentage (%)
Washed mouth with water and salt 6 33.3
Washed mouth with local gin 2 11.1
Washed mouth with dental powder 8 44.4
Visited the dental clinic for treatment or the local chemist 2 11.1
(Ojua et al., 2013; Nwauzoma and Magdalene, 2013). oral health and the dental clinic as well as dental phobia.
In our study, major dental ailments experienced in our This can however be improved by the provision of
study area included dental caries, periodontal diseases, necessary dental facilities, equipments and personnel as
tooth discolouration as well as mouth odour (halitosis). well as oral health education especially in areas where
Only very few individuals had not experienced any dental oral diseases have been reported to be prevalent (Palle
conditions that required treatment. This shows the and Viggo, 2002; Sofola, 2010; Ephraim-Emmanuel et
prevailing nature of oral health conditions requiring al., 2014a; Folayan et al., 2013; Hayran et al., 2012;
orthodox dental treatment which is usually not available Ephraim-Emmanuel et al., 2014b).
or not utilized in certain areas as a result of lack of dental For these dental ailments experienced, a number of
personnel, high cost of dental treatments, lack of non-medical/traditional/non-orthodox remedies were used
perceived need for dental care, misconceptions about for treatment in our study area, although a minority of
Ephraim-Emmanuel et al. 040
Figure 1. Reasons for the use of these traditional remedies in Otakeme Community.
individuals actually visited the dental clinic or used some using forms of western or modern medicine for treating
form of modern medicine as a form of treatment and dental ailments. Other reasons given include the absence
some others did not do anything to resolve the dental of a dental clinic in their community, the perceived ability
ailment which may be due to ignorance of what should be of these traditional remedies to work faster than other
done to treat the ailment. Others however combined the remedies, lack of time to visit the dental clinic located in
use of the non-orthodox remedies with the use of modern other communities for treatment which may be a resultant
medicine. The non-orthodox remedies used by the effect of the misconceptions and fears which they have
respondents in our study included the use of snuff about the dental clinic or may also be as a result of
(Nicotiana tabecum, Nicitiana rustica); local gin (a insufficient funds to transport them to dental clinics which
product of juniper berries: Juniperus communis), other may be located at distant areas as well as the
forms of local herbs believed to be similar to the herbs unavailability of such funds to pay for needed dental
used around the world for relieving dental ailments treatments. A percentage of the respondents were
including Piper guineense, Xylopia aethiopica, Citrus however of the opinion that these practices where what
aurantifolia, Aframomium melegueta, Syzigium they were told to use by their ancestors in the treatment
aromaticum etc. Others included the use of chewing of dental ailments which provides a cultural undertone to
stick, activated charcoal (carbon), salt as well as the use the use of traditional medicine as against modern
of dental powder which is made from a combination of medicine. These reasons given in our study are
herbs and charcoal. The use of these non-orthodox corroborated by other studies conducted in this field. As
remedies has also been reported in other studies carried earlier stated, the onus lies on government to ensure
out in different parts of the world for resolving dental- concerted efforts to discourage harmful traditional
related ailments and problems. Many of these practices medical practices through proper information
are however reported to be wrongly or ineffectively dissemination as well as provision of improved general
applied mainly as a result of cultural beliefs and practices and dental health care services as well as to encourage
which these individuals ignorantly adhere to amongst the traditional practices which promote health. Individuals
other factors. This has led to the advocation of a multi- are also not left out, as they have a responsibility to look
disciplinary approach to collaborate with these traditional beyond injurious and archaic cultural practices which are
practices as well as educate the practitioners and the bane of certain traditional medical practices and to
patronisers of these traditional practices to be able to embrace modern medical practices which have been
more effectively harness the benefits of the traditional tested and proven to be effective and at the same time
medical practice (Awoyemi et al., 2012; Ojua et al., 2013; free of harmful consequences to the barest minimum
Nwauzoma and Magdalene, 2013; Elujoba et al., 2005; (Adefolaju, 2014; Bamidele et al., 2009; Ojua et al., 2013;
Okigbo and Mmeka, 2006; Ogunshe et al., 2006; Borokini Okoli et al., 2007; Falodun, 2010; Ekeanyanwu, 2011).
et al., 2013).
Among those who used these non-orthodox remedies
to resolve dental ailments in our study area, majority of Conclusion
them opted for the use of traditional dental practice
because they felt it was more affordable for them than Traditional remedies used in the treatment of dental
041 Point J. Med. Med. Res.
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