Opening a bottle with your teeth could end up being painful, disfiguring, and expensive.
Buga by Kizz Daniel and Tekno has everyone dancing globally. The song has gone viral on TikTok and even Nigerian political parties have succumbed to Buga fever, using it as a victory song. In some of May, Buga was the most Shazammed song in the world.
It is little wonder then that since the song’s music video premiered on 22 June, it has garnered more than 34 million views. Buga’s theme is aspirational, encouraging people to wake up and be successful. The video features dancers in colourful costumes exuding joy in celebration evocative of Mardi Gras, Calabar Carnival, or a carnival in the Caribbean.
As Nigerians, the infectious song by Nigerian artists makes us feel proudly Naija. However, as medical professionals, there is one moment in the video that worries us. We are dismayed by the shot in which a female dancer uses her teeth to open a bottle. We know all too well the dangers of this risky act from regretful and suffering patients we have seen ourselves. We fear that such a widely watched video could lead people to mimic the dancer’s actions and similarly cause themselves serious harm.
We want to use this as a teachable moment therefore to educate Nigerians and others watching the video. Teeth are for chewing and smiling, and definitely not for opening bottles. It may seem like a cool party trick, but opening bottles in this way is one of the most dangerous things you can do with your teeth. Doing so could have four main serious health implications.
First, the edge of a bottle cap is so sharp it could cut your gums or mouth leading to severe injury.
Second, this risky behaviour can lead to a cracked tooth, which can affect speaking, eating, swallowing and sleeping. A cracked tooth can also get infected, which can lead to complications such as dental abscess and eventual loss of the tooth.
Third, a broken tooth can have a profound impact on one’s appearance. This can lead to low self-esteem, which can contribute to vulnerability to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. The cost of mental healthcare is high and the process time-consuming.
Fourth, a broken tooth is costly. It cannot heal itself and so requires treatment that can cost $10 to $100 depending on the severity. The minimum wage in Nigeria is about $30 a month.
Sadly, many people in Nigeria are low-income earners who may not be able to afford dental care. Consequently, the affected tooth is often left unreplaced and sufferers are left to deal with the health and social implications.
