It is a really important conversation because oral health is often treated as an afterthought in our public health system compared to diseases like malaria or typhoid. While personal responsibility is crucial for daily brushing and flossing, the reality is that the high cost of dental procedures often makes professional care inaccessible for the average Nigerian, pushing people to seek help only when they are in excruciating pain. I believe state governments definitely need to do more, especially by integrating dental screenings into existing primary healthcare programs and investing in preventive awareness in schools. Relying solely on individual responsibility ignores the socioeconomic barriers that prevent so many people from even accessing basic preventive care until it becomes a crisis. A more balanced approach, where the government subsidizes basic treatments and prioritizes education, would go a long way in shifting the culture from emergency care to proactive health management.