The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) conducted by Statistics Canada in 2003, reports that “Nine percent of Canadians aged 15 and over have no natural teeth.
I actually had to sit back and think about that one for a minute…no natural teeth? Does this mean that those people in question do not have ANY teeth? They are toothless? Or, they do not have any teeth in their natural state, without decay or fillings? Both scenarios are alarming, since I consider the age of 15 to be very young for such poor oral health.
I have contacted the Canadian Dental Association for clarification, but in the mean time, this brings up a very important topic: Children’s dental care. There is often confusion when it comes to how and why we care for our children’s teeth. Baby teeth, known clinically as primary teeth, are important for many reasons. Ultimately, the brushing and flossing habits children learn at an early age reflect either positively or negatively as they mature into adulthood.
With recent studies linking several health complications to gum disease, it is never too early to teach our children the importance of caring for their teeth. Stay tuned for the response from the CDA.
Its very alarming that in their early age they don’t already have a natural teeth. The first aid for this is the parents must ask the kids to have a regular visits to the dentists so that this kind of situation is prevented.