High cost of toothpaste: Nigerians return to chewing stick

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.

Even the least of the toothpastes cost an arm these days, and only the super-rich can afford them.

But 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.

So, it is no wonder that chewing sticks are back to the stable of family needs, Economy&Lifestyle have discovered.

Originally, chewing stick was a valued hygiene therapy mostly for the teeth, due to their high medicinal contents.

Chewing sticks are ordinarily from plants with rich medicinal values, and families of old insisted members compulsorily use them every morning.

However, with the spread of civilisation, toothpaste pushed the habit far into oblivion.

But now, the harsh economy has resuscitated the practice. 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.

“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.”

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.

“I know you would say how can a big girl like me use a chewing stick.

“I earn N40,000 monthly and live alone.

“I have rent and bills to pay yearly.

“In such a situation,I needed to cut costs.

“At all at all is bad. At least I can wash my teeth.

“If I don’t tell you it is a chewing stick I used you won’t know.”

Mr. Fehintola Ademide, a plumber said: “How much does one make that he will spend all his earnings on toothpaste.

“The government is not concerned about whether the policies they are making are affecting us negatively.
“They are just concerned with raising revenues wherever they can.

“See the recent increase in fuel price, when you get to the market the price of everything has increased.
“There is nothing that the price has not risen.

“Toothpaste in question has also reduced in quantity and quality.

“It doesn’t last up to a week before it gets finished in my house.

“My wife had to introduce me to a chewing stick recently which I embraced happily because that will cut the cost of buying toothpaste almost every week.

“She went further to buy this powder cup paste for the children because they are still kids and their gums can’t handle chewing sticks.

“Also, you know kids like licking toothpaste so this particular one they can’t lick.
“At least these alternatives have helped cut costs.

“No big man anywhere now. We are all managing seriously.”

Maureen Agu, a trader, said she has been using a chewing stick for the past three months and introduced her two adolescents to using it.

“Myself and my two grown children now use a chewing stick.

“The remaining two I bought powder paste for them because they are young.

“The powder paste is N500 and I make sure I or their elder sister puts it on their toothbrush.

“How much do I make? I am the only family they have and I have to cut costs in everything I do.
“It hasn’t been easy though but I thank God.

“Convincing my grown children to use chewing sticks wasn’t easy at all because this generation of children are just looking for an easy life.

“When they saw most of our neighbours using chewing sticks, they saw that they were not the only ones in such a predicament.

“Everyone is going for what they can afford.”

Wooden chewing sticks widely used in Nigeria for teeth cleaning namely are Garcinia kola, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Terminalia glaucescens, Sorindeia warneckei and Vitex doniana which according to a study by the National Library of Medicine and National Center for Biotechnology Information titled:”Antibacterial activities of extracts from Nigerian chewing sticks”, exhibited strong activities against a wide spectrum of bacteria including medically and dentally relevant bacteria.

The research also said that these five chewing stick extracts showed potent activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and multidrug-resistant Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extracts from Vernonia amygdalina, Fagara zanthoxyloides and Massularia acuminata also showed activities against bacteria significant to periodontal disease.