The World Health Organization defines oral health as a "state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the oral cavity".[1]
Why is this important?
Good oral health is about more than teeth and gums; it impacts a person's overall physical and mental health, as well as social interactions and the ease and comfort with which a person can carry out daily tasks, including talking, eating and connecting with other people.[2] Untreated gum disease has been connected to loss of teeth and respiratory disease. Gum disease has also been linked to diabetes.[3]
Indicators
Oral Health Behaviours |
Measure: Proportion of Population who Report Brushing their Teeth twice per DayTeeth brushing frequency was captured as part of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The CCHS uses probability sampling. Key FindingsIn 2017, a greater proportion of people in Guelph (86%) reported brushing their teeth two or more times per day (86%) when compared to people who lived in Wellington County (72%) and Ontario, as a whole (81%).
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*** Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph in this table. Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Statistics Canada, Annual Content (2017), Ontario Share File distributed by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Prepared by: Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. Last updated May 2019. Why are Oral Health Behaviours Important?Oral Health behaviours include the actions people take to care for their teeth, gums and mouth. Consistent oral health behaviours and habits, like brushing teeth and visiting a dentist regularly are an important way to maintain good oral and overall health. Good oral health habits also prevent tooth decay and gum disease.[4] Looking for more information?Please download the excel file below for:
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Tooth Decay |
Measure: Junior Kindergarten Students with Decayed, Missing/Extracted or Filled TeethWellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health provides oral screening for children in junior kindergarten, senior kindergarten and grade 2. The measure below presents the percent of junior kindergarten children who were screened and had decay, missing or extracted, or filled teeth. This information is drawn from the Ontario Health Information Support System (OHISS). Key FindingsDuring the 2018-19 school year, rates of tooth decay among junior kindergarten students were similar across Guelph and Wellington County. Between the 2015-16 and 2018-19 school years, the percentage of junior kindergarten students with tooth decay increased in Wellington County (excluding Guelph). Guelph rates remained relatively stable.
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*Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph. Source: Mobile Oral Health Information Support System (OHISS) Surveillance Database, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. Extracted July 19, 2019. Data was collected and analyzed by the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Coalition for Report Cards on the Well-Being of Children. Why is Tooth Decay Important?Dental caries is a term for all phases of tooth decay.[4] Tooth decay can damage the surfaces of teeth and cause holes.[5] Dental caries is preventable; yet worldwide it is the most common chronic disease. One third of all day-surgeries for Canadian children 1 to 5 years old are related to tooth decay.[4] LimitationsThis measure tells us the percent of junior kindergarten students with tooth decay, but does not provide information about the severity of the decay.Looking for more information?Please download the excel file below or visit the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Report Cards on the Well-Being of Children website. |
Access to Dental Care |
Measure: Proportion of Population that have not avoided going to a Dental Professional because of CostDental professional avoidance due to cost was captured as part of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The CCHS is a cross-sectional survey that collects information related to health status health care utilization and health determinants for the Canadian population and is conducted annually by Statistics Canada. Respondents were asked the question “In the past 12 months, have you avoided going to a dental professional because of the cost of dental care?”. The responses were to the question were “Yes” and “No”. For the purpose of this report, the response categories "Not Stated", "Refusal", "Don't Know, and "Not Applicable" were not included in the analysis. The CCHS uses probability sampling. Key FindingsIn Wellington County less males (78%) reported not avoiding going to a dental professional, when compared to females (81%). In Ontario, a lower proportion of females (75%) reported not avoiding a dental professional due to cost, when compared to males (80%).
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Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Statistics Canada, Annual Content (2017), Ontario Share File distributed by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Prepared by: Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health. Last updated May 2019. Why is Access to Dental Care Important?Access to dental care includes access to regular dental cleaning and treatment, as needed. People's access to dental care is connected to their ability to maintain good oral health.[4] Barriers to dental care include lack of insurance and location of services.[4] Although many Canadians have access to high quality dental care, the following populations experience significant barriers to good oral health: individuals, families, children and elderly living with low-income, individuals who do not have dental insurance, aboriginal peoples, refugees and immigrants, people with disabilities and people living in rural and remote regions.[6]
For more local information about access to dental care see the Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination report: Barriers to Accessing Oral Health Care for Low-Income Adults in Guelph.
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Notes
Probability sampling is when each person in the sample represents (besides themselves) several other persons in the sample. A sample weight is calculated based on the number of people that that person represents within the population. For example, in a random sample of 1% of the population, each person in the sample would represent 100 persons in the population.[7]
References
[1] World Health Organization (2016). Oral Health. Available at: http://www.who.int/topics/oral_health/en/
[2] Canadian Dental Association (2016). Your Oral Health. Available at: https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/
[3] Health Canada (2015). The Effects of Oral Health on Overall Health. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/lifestyles/effects-oral-health-overall-health.html
[4] Canadian Dental Association (2017). The State of Oral Health in Canada. Available at: https://www.cda-adc.ca/stateoforalhealth/_files/TheStateofOralHealthinCanada.pdf
[5] Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association (n.d.) Dental Hygiene Facts: Tooth Decay (Caries). Available at: https://odha.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Tooth-Decay-14-1-final.pdf
[6] Canadian Academy of health Sciences (2015). Improving access to oral health car for vulnerable people living in Canada. Available at: http://cahs-acss.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Access_to_Oral_Care_FINAL_REPORT_EN.pdf
[7] Statistics Canada (2015). Canadian Community Health Survey - Annual Component (CCHS). Available at: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3226