Amid worsening economic hardship, many Nigerians are turning back to traditional methods of oral hygiene, such as chewing sticks, due to the rising cost of toothpaste.
In a report by Vanguard, it said we are now going back to the old ways of living in Africa. No thanks to the excruciating economic conditions Nigerians are facing. “Gone are the days when we compete with brands and qualities of toothpaste.”
For an average family, who depends on God’s mercies for a moderate one or two meals, out of the three required in a day, spending N5,000 on toothpaste that may not last two weeks for an average family of seven, is a misplaced priority.
Originally, chewing stick was a valued hygiene therapy mostly for the teeth, due to their high medicinal contents. They are ordinarily from plants with rich medicinal values, and families of old insisted members compulsorily use them every morning.
According to Mr Vincent Osamese, a photographer, he reintroduced the use of chewing sticks in his house when he spent N4,000 on toothpaste in three weeks.
“Few months ago, I introduced the use of a chewing stick in my house when I spent N4,000 for toothpaste in three weeks.
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“My children use toothpaste like water.“My wife was reluctant at first saying she would do the buying.
“On trying it for a month, she was shouting and lamenting on the amount she has spent on toothpaste in a month.
“One morning she presented a chewing stick to me. I laughed and was glad I left her to experience what it takes to buy toothpaste at an expensive price in a month.
“Now we are using the chewing stick happily with no fuss.”
Similarly, Miss Adunni Hungbo, a trader, said: “My toothpaste finished few weeks ago.
“Upon getting to a shop, I was told the brand of toothpaste I use is now N2,000.
“I felt like fainting. Something I got last month for N1,500.
“I was so very angry and couldn’t substitute for other brands because I have a tooth problem.I left the shop.
“As I was heading home, I saw a woman selling herbs and it dawned on me that with just N100 I can get a chewing stick that can replace the toothpaste.
“That was how I ended up using a chewing stick till date. #Nigeria
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