TORONTO - As the mother of a 16-month-old boy, Catherine Arcand-Pinette is eager to prevent him from picking up infectious diseases such as the flu or strep throat.
However, the music teacher from Oakville, Ont., says in the past she never considered tooth decay to be among those infectious threats.
"I was really surprised when I found this out," Arcand-Pinette said Tuesday at a news conference hosted by the Ontario Dental Association. "I hadn't really thought about it that way before.
"It tells me that I need to prevent it, just like I work on preventing my son getting sick every day."
The association considers tooth decay an infectious disease and calls it the most common preventable chronic childhood disease.
Arcand-Pinette and dentists with the association urged parents to do more to help prevent what they call the "urgent problem" of tooth decay in children.
"I have made it through my life this far without a cavity, and I want my son to be in the same position when he's my age," Arcand-Pinette said.
An association report released Tuesday states that tooth decay is one of the leading causes of school absences.
Health problems related to tooth decay include infection, pain, and problems with speech and chewing, said former association president Dr. Ian McConnachie.
It can also be a factor in childhood obesity and affect self-esteem and school performance, he said.
"Everyone is at risk for tooth decay," said association president Dr. Larry Levin. "We have to protect all those kids who cannot protect themselves."
The group issued 10 recommendations for parents to help prevent tooth decay in their kids, including not sharing utensils, cups, food and toothbrushes with them.
"You can slow down the volume of bacteria that can cause the program and the timing at which it starts its work," Levin said.
"All things being equal, eliminating this will give your kids a better chance."
Other recommendations call for parents to watch for changes in the teeth of infants and starting to brush with fluoride toothpaste once the first tooth appears.
The association also advocated a five-program action plan for the government that includes investing in an education campaign and ensuring that kids from low-income families have better access to dental care.
"It's never seen the government commitment that is necessary to bring this under control, and now we're facing a crisis for our kids," McConnachie said.
He noted figures from the American Dental Education Association showing dental costs for kids who get early preventive care are 40 per cent lower than those whose care is neglected.
The association also called for the continued fluoridation of community water supplies, which Levin said is only part of the overall solution.
"Fluoride in the water does decrease the effect, but it doesn't take care of all aspects of the effect," Levin said. "It has the ability to control it."
