Youth Oral Health

A healthy mouth and teeth are important for a healthy body. Teeth are important for eating a healthy diet as well as socializing and communicating with others.

We can help with access to dental care

• KFL&A Public Health can help with finding a dentist and enrolling in the free Healthy Smiles Ontario program.
• We also offer free Community Dental Hygiene Clinics to eligible youth 17 and under. A registered dental hygienist can provide an assessment and preventive services as needed. 
• Youth eighteen or older in need of urgent dental care can call us to see to apply for the Dental Treatment Assistance Fund (DTAF).

Tips to keep a healthy smile for life

• Brush twice a day for two minutes each time using a fluoride toothpaste – once in the morning and at night before bed.
• Floss daily to help keep teeth clean and gums healthy.
• Eat a healthy diet and choose healthy snacks for teeth according to Canada's Food Guide. Choose vegetables and fruit, and avoid foods with added sugar.
• Choose water. Sports drinks, energy drinks, juices, and soft drinks are high in sugar and acids that erode tooth enamel and may lead to tooth decay. Many specialty coffees are also high in sugar. Water is the best choice to quench thirst. Make water the drink of choice.
• Use a sports mouthguard when playing sports like hockey, soccer, football, and even basketball. Trauma to teeth can happen easily during any contact sport. Teeth are the only part of the body that do not repair themselves, and dental costs for broken or lost teeth can be very costly to treat.   
• Visit the dentist regularly for a checkup and cleaning to prevent oral health problems before they cause pain or infection. Oral health problems can affect appearance, cause bad breath, and impact your overall health.
• Avoid tobacco products to reduce the risk for oral cancer and many other health conditions. Tobacco also causes bad breath, gingivitis, limits taste and smell, and stains teeth.  
• Wisdom teeth are the last of the permanent molars to erupt around 17 to 21 years of age. They can sometimes cause pain when they start to erupt if there is not enough room for the teeth to come in. See a dentist to learn more about wisdom teeth.
• Teeth whitening is best discussed with a dental professional. They can provide up-to-date information on all the teeth whitening options and help with choosing whitening options suited to individual needs.

Oral health is a part of your overall health

• Eating disorders can affect the health of the jaw, teeth, and mouth, and vomiting can erode teeth causing decay.  The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) is a Canadian non-profit agency that provides resources on eating disorders. Call the NEDIC Helpline 1-866-633-4220.
• Oral piercings can put the mouth at risk for infection, damage teeth and gums, and can cause nerve damage affecting taste and speech. Check to ensure the service provider has been inspected and meets proper infection prevention and control practices for personal service settings. A dental provider can give you tips on how to keep your piercing clean.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) and oral cancer - HPV  is a common, contagious sexually transmitted infection that can be transmitted through sexual contact, including oral sex. It can show in the mouth or throat as a sore, and a dentist may be the first to notice any concerns with oral health. Some common HPV types may cause oral and throat cancers. Decrease the risk of HPV by receiving the HPV vaccine and using protective barriers if sexually active.
• Drinking alcohol may increase the risk for oral cancer. The sugars in alcoholic drinks such as wine or spirits mixed with sugary drinks such as juice or pop, can also cause tooth decay. Many drinks with alcohol are also acidic and may erode tooth enamel causing decay.

Resources:

• Ontario Dental Association – Teens 
• Canadian Dental Association – Your Oral Health 
• Government of Canada – Athletic Mouthguards 
• Government of Canada – Oral Health 
• National Eating Disorder Information Centre - Dental Problems Associated with Disordered Eating 
• Canadian Paediatric Society 
• Canadian Cancer Society 
• Ontario Dental Hygienist Association 
• American Dental Association - Mouth Healthy