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

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.