Childhood Oral Health: Nova Scotia 2017 Oral Health Report
May 2, 2017
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I had the great pleasure of speaking with Dr. Carla Sherman, Chair of the Oral Health Promotions Committee at the Nova Scotia Dental Association, and Dr. Jeff Bonang, President of NSDA. we invited them on Oasis Discussions to tell us about the newly released Childhood Oral Health report which contains important information as well as a number of important recommendations on early childhood oral care. Chiraz Guessaier, CDA Oasis Manager |
Highlights
- Introducing good oral health habits early in life could mean Nova Scotia children will have better oral health, and better overall health, their whole lives. Early childhood caries (ECC), commonly known as cavities or tooth decay, is the most common childhood, infectious disease and is a big problem in Nova Scotia.
- Between 24–36 months of age (three years), children usually have a complete set of 20 primary (baby) teeth, and they play an important role in a child’s development.
- Primary teeth are important for guiding adult teeth into place. If primary teeth are lost due to decay, the adult teeth can be crowded.
- Whether it’s in water or toothpaste, or applied during a dental visit, fluoride provides many dental benefits. It contributes to tooth formation and makes new teeth stronger, provides long-lasting protection to a child’s teeth, and children are less likely to develop dental decay if they use fluoride.
- Preventing dental injuries is just as important as good oral health habits, especially as children get older.
Read and download the NSDA report (PDF)