Canada - Filling the holePosted By Posted 17 mins ago
Filling the holePosted By Posted 17 mins ago
A new report from the Ontario Dental Association makes a convincing case that public health educators, emergency dental care programs and parents all need to do more to prevent children from getting cavities.
Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease in Canada and one of the main reasons children miss school. According to the ODA, it is five times more prevalent than asthma among children ages five to 17.
The ODA is now promoting a program that has three main thrusts: better access to dental care for low-income children, beginning when they are one year old; more emphasis on dental issues by public health workers; and better education for parents about what tooth disease it, how to prevent it and how to recognize early signs.
The ODA argument in favour of more direct government investment in early dental care is similar to what we often hear from the health sector: spend now to save later. But while investment in prevention often generates health care benefits, the promised economic savings often don't show up for years and are difficult to quantify.
Boosting dental care programs would produce immediate results and make better use of current investment of tax dollars.
Another effective recommendation would see public health agencies put more focus on dental care. But education is only helpful if the knowledge is applied. Parents need to follow the dos and don'ts. Larry Levin, ODA president, says informed, conscientious parents can eliminate tooth disease in their children. That's true of all parents, not just low-income earners.
The report also warns against a reversal of the common practice of adding fluoride to drinking water and says all municipalities should be fluoridating their water.
Peterborough Examiner/Sun Media
Fluoridation isn't that effective and causes fluorosis and maybe other harm so why not get it out?
A new report from the Ontario Dental Association makes a convincing case that public health educators, emergency dental care programs and parents all need to do more to prevent children from getting cavities.
Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease in Canada and one of the main reasons children miss school. According to the ODA, it is five times more prevalent than asthma among children ages five to 17.
The ODA is now promoting a program that has three main thrusts: better access to dental care for low-income children, beginning when they are one year old; more emphasis on dental issues by public health workers; and better education for parents about what tooth disease it, how to prevent it and how to recognize early signs.
The ODA argument in favour of more direct government investment in early dental care is similar to what we often hear from the health sector: spend now to save later. But while investment in prevention often generates health care benefits, the promised economic savings often don't show up for years and are difficult to quantify.
Boosting dental care programs would produce immediate results and make better use of current investment of tax dollars.
Another effective recommendation would see public health agencies put more focus on dental care. But education is only helpful if the knowledge is applied. Parents need to follow the dos and don'ts. Larry Levin, ODA president, says informed, conscientious parents can eliminate tooth disease in their children. That's true of all parents, not just low-income earners.
The report also warns against a reversal of the common practice of adding fluoride to drinking water and says all municipalities should be fluoridating their water.
Peterborough Examiner/Sun Media
Fluoridation isn't that effective and causes fluorosis and maybe other harm so why not get it out?
posted by Bill at
1:52 PM
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