A professor of Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Lagos, Omolola Olubunmi Orenuga, has raised an alarm over the link between a mother’s oral health and the well-being of her unborn child.
Speaking during the 22nd Inaugural Lecture of the 2024/2025 academic session at the College of Medicine, UNILAG, Prof. Orenuga noted that poor oral care in pregnant women could negatively affect the development of a baby’s teeth and even overall growth.
She noted that preventive dental care during pregnancy goes beyond protecting the mother alone. According to her, it also helps safeguard the child’s long-term health, stressing that healthy children must be nurtured from the womb.
The lecture, which was titled “The Paediatric Dentist: Building Healthy Smiles from the Womb,” took place on August 10, 2025, at the Tayo Aderinokun Lecture Theatre. It was well attended by university officials, academics, students, and members of the community.
Prof. Orenuga used the occasion to call for oral health to be fully integrated into maternal care across Nigeria. She urged expectant mothers to pay attention to their oral hygiene, while also tasking policymakers and health professionals to intensify awareness campaigns.
According to her, such measures will not only improve maternal health but also reduce preventable risks to babies, ensuring they grow up healthier.
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