Department Promotes Healthy Child Development

Parents, grandparents and others now have a new resource to help ensure children's oral health. Health Minister Jamie Muir launched two videos for families and care-givers today that raise awareness and offer tips for preventing early childhood tooth decay.

Mr. Muir said the initiative is an example of government's commitment to enhance health promotion and disease prevention and support Nova Scotians in achieving and maintaining good health.

"By promoting healthy practices early in life we can help foster the lifelong habits children need to become healthy adults," said Mr. Muir. "This is a win-win situation - healthy children and adults are happier, more productive and will also rely on costly health services less."

Commonly known as baby bottle tooth decay or snacking tooth decay, early childhood tooth decay is the rapidly progressing decay of primary teeth or baby teeth. When sugary foods and liquids are allowed to collect on teeth over a period of time bacteria in the mouth use the sugars to produce a strong acid which eats away at teeth, causing cavities.

One of the most critical steps in keeping children's teeth healthy, comfortable and attractive is to educate care-givers about what they can do each day to prevent cavities, including choosing healthy foods and feeding practices and providing good oral hygiene. The following tips are highlighted in the videos:

• Never put a baby to bed with a bottle;
• Water is the best in between meal drink when toddlers are thirsty. Frequent sipping of sugary fluids such as juice, fruit drinks, soda or milk put children at risk for cavities.
• Take children for their first dental checkup by one year of age.

Tooth decay can be painful and upsetting for both children and their families and can lead to other serious health problems such as infections. Decay can also decrease children's appetites, make them irritable and make it difficult for them to eat many healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. Healthy baby teeth are important for chewing, speaking properly and helping children feel good about themselves. They also act as guides for adult teeth, so if they are lost too early it could cause crooked permanent teeth.

A 1995-96 Department of Health survey of school age children found that two out of three grade one students had cavities, despite the fact dental decay is almost always preventable. It is estimated that treating each case of severe early childhood tooth decay costs the province upwards of $1500.

The department public health and health promotion division and insured programs branch produced the videos in partnership with regional public health services, the Nova Scotia Dental Association, the IWK-Grace Health Centre, and the Dalhousie University faculty of dentistry. Input was also received from family dentists, doctors and the public, particularly young mothers and pregnant women. The videos were released this week to coincide with Dental Health Month.