I Haven’t Forgotten About the Chewing Sticks

One of my purposes for traveling to Africa was to conduct my own research on chewing sticks. Chewing sticks are actual sticks from trees that are used to clean teeth. Many people use them in Africa because they are easily assessable. I actually bought mine from the local market. This man from the U.S. who was a biochemist asked me what I was doing in Africa. I told him that I came to research the differences between dentistry in Africa, a 3rd world country with limited resources verses in the U.S, a very developed country with many resources. I also told him that I was interested in learning more about the chewing sticks and how they work. The man told me “well, of course there’s a difference, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out”. He then added, chewing sticks have bactericide that’s why they work. Honestly this man really irritated me because it was like he was telling me that it is very obvious that there is a difference between the U.S. and Africa and it did not take me coming down here to figure it out. I could google any article and read about the differences, I could also read information about chewing sticks; but experiencing this myself is unforgettable. For example, we all know that Africa is a poor country, but me being over here having to live the life that they quest upon each day, is more enriching than reading any article on the internet. The things that I have learned here could not be obtained from anything tangible; they were absorbed in my brain and marinated in my heart. As far as the chewing sticks, I have talked to patients and locals who use them and I have also observed the mouths of patients. Dr. George also answered any questions that I inquired. What I have learned about chewing sticks is that many people who use them often only use them in an up/down motion. This means that they often only clean the front teeth, and not the back teeth and the surfaces of the teeth. Another thing I learned was that the size of the stick matters; the longer the stick, the more reach a person has when cleaning their teeth, which is a good thing. Another thing that is very important in regards to the chewing stick is how to get the best use of it. It is better to chew on the stick after getting it and cleaning it. Chewing on the sticks creates dents and rigid areas, much like the Brussels on a tooth brush. This will allow the stick to clean better, allowing scrubbing to be more effective. Africa is very dirty, the air is polluted, and there are many bugs everywhere. This can pose as a problem when it comes to keeping the stick clean because many people put the stick behind their ear or leave it out. Therefore, bacteria gets on the stick and into their mouths, leading to oral hygiene issues. As far as the chemical properties in chewing sticks, what I have learned is that there are Antimicrobials, Inflammatory properties, Antibacterials, Antibiotics, Fluoride, trimethylamine, salvadorine, silica, vitamin C, and sterols. I am very sure that there are many more properties than what I have listed, but I can only speak on what I have learned. One very interesting thing about chewing sticks is that they can be obtained from pretty much any tree; there are not certain trees that are used. I had the opportunity to use one and it had a very bitter taste. Honestly, I think I will stick to my tooth brush and tooth paste, but I did enjoy the experience.

My Dental Research is Completed

I have completed 50 hours of dental shadowing in Africa. This was truly a wonderful experience. I have learned more about dentistry than I have ever learned in the U.S. Although it was hot, with no AC the majority of the time, I made it. I can say that I have lived an African life while I have been here. From the struggle to the sunshine, I have experienced it. Dr. George invited me to his home to have dinner and to meet his wife. I must say that his house was beautiful. It was really big, decorated lovely, and very modern; he also had an underground pool in the back yard. Dr. George’s wife made a delightful African dinner: Benachin (rice and fish), Chicken Yassa, Potatoe salad, and Vinegar Salad. She served Ice Cream and fresh mango for desert. The moral of the story is that I finally had the opportunity to eat a delicious African meal, with no complaints. Dr. George was really sad to see me leave, but he told me to keep in touch with him and if I needed anything, just to let him know. I am honored to have met Dr. George, he taught me a lot and showed me that no matter what your upbringing may be, you can always rise to the top with hard work. He always quotes “To whom much is given, much is expected”. Dr. George told me that he owns an apartment her in The Gambia, and if I ever come back, I can stay there for free, or at his home. He plans to see me in 6 years after I am a dentist, when I come back to volunteer as a Dentist, assisting those in need. I will be honest, I did not like Africa; however, it taught me a lot. I would never come back for a vacation, but I would always come back to help serve those in need of oral health care. Lastly, I will never forget Amna, she is a very bright woman with so much drive. We learned so much from each other. We have two different backgrounds, but we have the same passion. I had so much fun with YOU AMNA (I know you are reading).

THE ROOTS

I was presented the opportunity to experience something that very few people have ever experienced. I am sure that everyone knows who Kunta Kinteh is, and if you do not, it is vital that you find out. I traveled to Juffureh in The Gambia to visit two historic sites: The Roots Heritage Trail and Kunta Kinteh Island (James Island). After missing two ferries, I finally caught the third one across the Atlantic Ocean to reach Juffereh. It was a gruesome experience, but I did it. I arrived at the Heritage Trial to see a big “THE ROOTS” sign, which let me know that I was there. This trail is the very same trail that Africans traveled down when they were captured. They were forced down the trail, taken to the slave trading post, when it was time; they were forced out on a boat and taken to James Island (Kunta Kinteh Island). This island sits in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean by itself, the only way to get to and from the island is by boat; it is too far from land to swim and the water is extremely deep. This is why they call this island the point of no return, because when the slaves were brought here, they were stuck there and chained. One thing that caught my eye was that there were cannons on the land by the dock where they loaded the slaves into the boat, and there were also cannons on Kunta Kinteh Island. The Europeans would shoot the cannons if a slave would try to escape from the Island. With that being said, I walked down the trail, and about half way down, the bottom fell out of the sky, and I was soaked. Because this was a trail in the woods near swamps, I began to get really dirty and muddy but that did not make me stop. I continued to travel down the trail until I reached the remains of the holding house for the slaves. This was where they kept the slaves that they captured, until it was time for them to be transported to James Island. After traveling the trail I ran into about six small children. It had been raining and they were soaked, so I knew that they had been outside during the rain, which is not uncommon in Africa. Many of them did not have on any clothes but underwear, even the little girls. They were so excited to see someone, so I asked them if they wanted to take a picture with me. They all ran up to me with so much joy in their eyes. Afterwards, I took a canoe across the Atlantic Ocean to Kunta Kinteh Island; I was very nervous traveling such a distance in such deep water. When I reached the Island, I was very emotional because I was traveling the same pathway that my ancestors traveled; this was absolute hell for them. The difference is, my pathway was voluntarily and they were forced and beat. This island was the point at which they knew they would never see Africa again. I explored the island; there were remains of “The Governors room”, “The Slave Yard”, and “The Council’s Room”. I will say that this was a wonderful experience, very emotional, but it was very necessary for me as an African American woman.

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The Full Experience (Pictures for you NON READERS)

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Shake Sum Shake Sum

I went to Club Duplex again with some Americans that I met. However, once again the club was not a good time. The music was not good and there were not many people there. I think that I am done with African clubs for my time here. However, the next night my hotel had a big BBQ with an African performance. I got to experience African dancing as well as African drumming. It was very entertaining. African dance is done through expression. Everyone has their own style and moves; it is a way for them to express their selves. At times I did get tickled because some of it looked really crazy, and no one would ever do this in the US, but I did appreciate the African culture. They tried to get me to come out and dance, but I did not. I can dance in America, but the African style is just not for me. One comparison that I made was that in Africa; they are never on beat, which is why it looks funny. In America everything is on beat, and if you get caught dancing off beat, you will be judged. So if you are someone who is never on beat, come to Africa, they will love to have you, and you will not be judged.

I Know You Missed My Updates

I know I haven’t blogged in a few days, but I have been very tired. Volunteering at the Dental Office Monday through Saturday for five to six hours a day can really take a toll on me. However, the reason I go so much is because I truly enjoy it and I learn a lot. I think the doctor enjoys me being there because he always asks me if I will be there the next day. He has invited me and Amna to his home this Saturday to meet his family and to hang out in his pool. Dr. George is an example of a wealthy person in The Gambia. If there is a misconception that all people in Africa are poor, that is not true. People here are either wealthy or poor; there really aren’t many middle class people here. A few days ago I was able to watch Dr. George perform many surgeries where he did a lot of reconstructing his patients mouths. He told one woman that he was not going to charge her full price; this allowed me to really see that Dr. George is not interested in money; he just wants the best for his patients. This reminded me once again why I want to embark into this profession; I am passionate about helping people and making a difference in the world. Dentistry will allow me to serve those who are in need of oral health care domestically and internationally. Dr. George is becoming more and more trusting of Amna and I. We now know how to set up the X-Rays for him to use. We also know how to read them; I have spotted decay and diseases. I can also spot 1st Class cavities, where the cavity is surrounded by the tooth, as well as 2nd Class cavities where the cavity is on the side of the tooth, and the tooth is actually missing a side. I also have knowledge of how and when to use anesthetics. For example, when treating the top teeth, you use a method called “Infiltration”, where you put the anesthetic in many different places between the nerves in the top gums. However, when treating the bottom teeth, you use a method called “Block”, where you focus on the certain area that is being treated. Dr. George also taught me a few medical terminology terms like “apicoectomy”, which implies the surgical removal of the tip of the root of the problem tooth. I will say that I am learning a lot about dentistry from Dr. George and I am very thankful. I have helped Dr. George with his data for his patients. I organized his charts in alphabetical order, and tomorrow I will be creating an excel document for him to keep track of all his patients’ records: their balances, their treatments, and their insurance claims if they exist.
On another note: I took a trip to the market where I purchased many gifts for my family and friends. I had to take two taxies just to get to the market. One thing about The Gambia is that it is heavily depended on Taxis because many people do not own cars. The expense to ride in a taxi is 7 Dalasis per town. So for me to go to the market I had to take a Taxi from Bajilo (where I’m staying) to Senegambia, then I had to get out to get into another taxi, then I took that taxi to Serrekunda, which is where the market is located. The total for that trip is 14 Dalasis, which is very cheap in American dollars. (1 U.S. Dollar = 27 to 28 Gambian Dalasis) I had to pay the same to return home. One thing to remember if you ever travel here is to not get charged too much for Taxis. One man told me “You have American skin so you pay big American money”. I told him “Ok I am American, but you either give me a ride, or you will not make any Gambian money today”. He stopped and thought about it, and said “Get in”. I happily got in, and rode home. He understood that he would not have any income at all if he refused to take my money at the same rate that he charged the Gambians.

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