Oral health

Good oral health means being free from diseases and disorders that affect our teeth, gums, and mouths. Having good oral health enables us to carry out daily tasks with ease and comfort—like talking, eating, and connecting with others.

A young, bearded man grins, showing off his dental braces.
A mother brushes her teeth in front of a mirror while holding her baby who watches her in the mirror.

Oral health behaviours

Practicing good oral hygiene is essential to keep gums and teeth healthy. This includes brushing our teeth twice a day (with a fluoride toothpaste) and flossing at least once a day. [1]

1 in 4 people in our community do not brush their teeth at least twice a day
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1 in 4 people in our community do not brush their teeth at least twice a day

Practicing good oral hygiene helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, which can become serious if left untreated. [1] 

An icon array shows the percentage of people age 12 years and older in Guelph, Wellington County, and Dufferin County who brushed their teeth less than twice a day in 2017 and 2018. For a full description of the graph, refer to the “Read graph as text” section.
In 2017 and 2018, 1 in 4 people age 12 years and older in Guelph, Wellington County, and Dufferin County brushed their teeth less than twice a day. An icon array shows the percentage of people age 12 years and older in Guelph, Wellington County, and Dufferin County who brushed their teeth less than twice a day in 2017 and 2018. Four teeth are pictured; one is bright red (representing the percentage of people who brushed their teeth less than twice a day) and three are pale grey with brushes on top and sparkles. Source: Public Health Ontario
A dental hygienist shows a teeth model to a patient.

Tooth decay

Tooth decay is damage to the tooth’s surface. It is caused by bacteria that produce acids which break down the tooth’s enamel. Tooth decay can lead to cavities which can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss if left untreated. [1] 

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health provides oral screening for children in junior kindergarten to identify oral health needs, including tooth decay.

Nearly 1 in 5 junior kindergarten students in our community have decayed, extracted, or filled teeth
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Nearly 1 in 5 junior kindergarten students in our community have decayed, extracted, or filled teeth

Good oral hygiene habits to prevent tooth decay should start before children even get their first tooth. [2] Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced by adult teeth, habits established in childhood tend to carry over into adulthood. [3] 

A line graph shows the percentage of junior kindergarten students in Guelph and Wellington County that had decayed, extracted, or filled teeth from the 2015/16 to 2018/19 school year. For a full description of the graph, refer to the “Read graph as text” section.
Nearly 1 in 5 junior kindergarten students in Guelph and Wellington County have decayed, extracted, or filled teeth. A line graph shows the percentage of junior kindergarten students in Guelph and Wellington County with decayed, extracted, and filled teeth from the 2015/2016 school year to the 2018/2019 school year. Separate lines are shown for Guelph and Wellington County. The x-axis shows the school year, and the y-axis shows the percentage of students. In the 2018/2019 school year, 18% of junior kindergarten students in both Guelph and Wellington County had decayed, extracted, or filled teeth. Source: Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
Library books on a shelf.

References

  1. Canadian Dental Association. (n.d.). Your oral health. 
  1. Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association. (2016). Dental hygiene facts: Tooth decay (caries). 
  2. Public Health Agency of Canada. (2024, July 25). Oral health for children. Government of Canada. 
  3. Heilmann, A., Tsakos, G., & Watt, R. G. (2015). Oral health over the life course. In C. Burton-Jeangros, S. Cullati, A. Sacker, & D. Blane (Eds.), A life course perspective on health trajectories and transitions. Springer Cham. 
An open drawer in a card catalog.

Data sources

Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). (2023). Oral health snapshot [Data file]. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. (2019). Mobile oral health information support system (OHISS) surveillance database [Database]. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Report Card Coalition [Distributor]. 

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