We would put a community dental plan into action

By Howard Hampton
MPP Kenora-RR

Not many things light up your life like a great smile - a child’s toothy grin, a smile across a crowded room, or a grandmother’s wise knowing smile.
 Smiling is an infectious practice, but over 40 per cent of low-income families in Ontario are tight-lipped because they can’t afford proper dental care. 
 We all know how painful it is when we have a problem with our teeth.  What is more aggravating than a toothache, painful cavity or an abscessed tooth?
Unfortunately, if these minor aches are left untreated, they can turn into serious health problems.
Serious problems like for Jason Jones, a young man who lost all of but four of his teeth by the age of 25 because he couldn’t afford dental care.
 Or Moses Han, a hard-working, self-employed husband and father who went blind from a tooth infection that spread to his eyes – all because he couldn’t afford to pay a $1,300 dental bill.
Think about it - if you have an infection on your foot you see a doctor and it’s covered by OHIP.  However, if you have an infection in your tooth you’re barred from getting the care you need unless you pay out of your pocket or through private insurance.  That’s not fair.  It’s time to fix a broken and unfair health system. 
New Democrats are putting working families first with Ontario Smiles, the NDP’s Fair Dental Access Plan that would enhance dental care for kids and other Ontarians without dental coverage.
The NDP’s plan would see Community Dental Health Teams providing checkups, fillings, extractions and emergency care to Ontarians who have been shut out by the high cost of dental care.
Ontario Smiles is the NDP prescription for poor dental health, a silent epidemic that’s a leading cause of illness and infection for hard-working families who can’t afford expensive dental care.  Our Fair Dental Access Plan will provide real relief to thousands of Ontarians from the pain, suffering and poor overall health that result from a lack of dental care.
And Ontario Smiles will fill the leadership void left by Dalton McGuinty - who rewarded himself with a $40,000 pay raise, but failed to do anything to help families who are suffering or at risk because they can’t afford proper dental care.
It’s important to make sure today’s poor dental health doesn’t turn into tomorrow’s chronic illnesses and health care emergencies. If left untreated, dental infections and poor dental health can lead to heart disease, diabetes, chronic inflammatory illnesses and poor overall health. 
It’s time to we made healthy teeth and mouths a priority for everyone – it’s time to make Ontario smile.