This is Dental Health Month

News Release
NWHU

Your mouth is the gateway to your body. The Chief Dental Officer for Canada notes the connection between our mouths and bodies. “The health of your mouth provides a window into the health of your body. You are not healthy if your mouth is not healthy”.
The importance of having good, healthy oral hygiene habits no matter your age can’t be ignored or stressed enough. Research tells us that there is a link between poor oral health and systemic diseases such as diabetes in people of all ages and respiratory diseases, particularly among the elderly. New and ongoing research shows the possible connections between oral health, heart disease and premature, low birth-weight babies.
In the meantime, it is important to realize that chronic oral infections such as cavities, periodontal disease and acute oral infections, like painful abscesses, may affect one’s overall health. Oral disease alone can cause pain, tooth loss and bad breath. Poor oral health can affect nutrition, growth, self-esteem, ability to learn and work and quality of life.
During the month of April, Preventive Dental Services will be launching a health promotion campaign called “Brushing and Flossing - Good for Your Teeth....Good for Your Health”. Education sessions for Grade 5 students will reinforce the importance of daily brushing and flossing to maintain a healthy mouth. Information about the link between oral health and general health will reach the public through radio and newspaper ads in addition to fact sheets and print materials available at dental and health unit offices within the region.
More information about the campaign can be found on the Northwestern Health Unit website at www.nwhu.on.ca.