Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 2(4), pp. 125 - 130
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2014.020403
Reprint (PDF) (151Kb)

It’s about More Than Just Baby Teeth: An Examination of Early Oral Care in Canada

Leonard Smith ¹, Larry Katz ^2,*, Herbert Emery ³, Jackie Sieppert ⁴, Zoe Polsky ⁵, Kimberly Nagan ^6
1 Department of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada
² Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada
³ Department of Economics, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada
⁴ Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada
⁵ Kinesiology, McGill University, Montreal, H2W 1S4, Quebec, Canada
⁶ Research Associate, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada

ABSTRACT

It may come as a surprise to the public and to medical practitioners that the most common infectious disease in young children is dental decay and that oral health is the most prevalent unmet healthcare need of children. Children who present with early childhood caries (ECC) can suffer from pain, sleeplessness, malnutrition, difficulty playing, struggles in school, and toxic stress. Although it is almost completely preventable through low-cost preventive measures, prevalence is very high in Canada affecting over one quarter of children. Several factors interact on different levels (child, family and community) to create a situation in which ECC prevails. Recommendations for prevention are presented and include early visits to a dentist, dental care as part of prenatal care, interdisciplinary collaboration across health and social services, as well as many others.

KEYWORDS
Early Childhood Caries, Child, Oral Health, Prevention, Canada

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Leonard Smith , Larry Katz , Herbert Emery , Jackie Sieppert , Zoe Polsky , Kimberly Nagan , "It’s about More Than Just Baby Teeth: An Examination of Early Oral Care in Canada," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 125 - 130, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2014.020403.

(b). APA Format:
Leonard Smith , Larry Katz , Herbert Emery , Jackie Sieppert , Zoe Polsky , Kimberly Nagan (2014). It’s about More Than Just Baby Teeth: An Examination of Early Oral Care in Canada. Universal Journal of Public Health, 2(4), 125 - 130. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2014.020403.