Using Teeth To Cut Sachet Water, Nails Unhealthy – Health Officer

By Solomon Odeniyi

The common habit of using teeth to cutsachetwater, nylons containing edibles and nails has been described as an unhealthy practice that is capable of jeopardizing the human health system.

Such practice, according to the State of Osun Health Education Officer, Mrs. Taiwo Adeniji, could fuel the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, warning residents of the state to desist from it.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER during a telephone interview, the expert urged the people to avoid eating cold snacks, food bought from restaurants, using teeth to cut nylon wrappers containing edibles, among others.

She said: “COVID-19 is at the stage of community transmission, whether we like it or not. We must be extra careful, most especially with the things that go into our mouth. Many of the residents of the state are guilty of buying biscuits, sachet water and other things packaged in nylons and they use their teeth to open it.

“It is a bad habit and with the Coronavirus in town, we have to stop it.  It is dangerous to even use your hand; let alone your teeth. You don’t know who touched it before you. We can contract the virus through this means.  If you want to drink sachet water, use blade or scissors to cut and turn it inside a cup.

“If you are also buying food or snacks outside, ensure it is hot. Although the safest thing to do at this period is to stop eating out, mouth is an area where the virus can easily enter our body.

“Also sharing of cutleries with people should be discouraged, even within family circles, everyone should have his own pieces of cutleries.  Your loved ones may be asymptomatic and not even know they’re infected. Sharing forks or spoons with them can transmit the virus to you.

“I have also seen many people, children especially, mindlessly cutting their nails with their teeth. Some also clean their mouth with their hands. Our fingers can host germs and virus. When we do these things, we are giving it a way to enter our body and infect us.

“The virus only needs access to the lining of our mouth to spread. Like I earlier stated, we need to be very conscious about what we do. We should act as if everyone is a carrier of the virus.  That way we will be more cautious about things we do.”