Oral Health, Total Health Blog - Available to everyone!
Please share any thoughts you might have, stay current on OHTH initiatives or connect with others using this forum.
If you have any specific questions regarding the program, please contact Oral Health, Total Health at info@ohth.ca.
Oral Health, Total Health.
With your generosity,
we can
make a difference.
Did You Know?
-
To ensure proper oral hygiene,
try brushing your teeth
how they grow:
FROM the gum line,
and onto the teeth. -
The gum line is the area most missed when brushing;
coincidently it is
of importance for
one’s oral health. -
The most important
time to brush your
teeth is before
you go to bed. -
You can boil a rubber door stop and try using it as a mouth prop to assist in brushing the
teeth of individuals
who may not be
willing to open
their mouths. -
Use a pea size amount of fluoridated toothpaste when brushing, it is okay
if this small amount
is swallowed. -
When brushing the teeth of a person with special needs, if possible, have the
individual sit so
you can stand
behind them. -
The oral cavity plays a prominent role in an individual’s quality of life as it pertains to communication, nutrition, emotional expression, taste, social appearance and self-esteem
-
Increasing numbers of people with mental retardation no longer live in institutions, and
are dependent on
dentists in
private practice
for care. -
Current research shows that persons with disabilities have greater levels of
periodontal
disease. -
Current research shows that persons with disabilities present with a poorer state
of oral hygiene. -
In Ontario, with over 12 million residents; approximately
1.85 million people
have a disability. -
In Canada in 2006, 14.3% of the population had a disability representing
4.4 million people.
I am so impressed by the passion of all those involved with Oral Health, Total Health, whose energy and commitment is making this tremendous campaign a reality. People with special needs have long been underserved when it comes to their dental health, and we now know that this can contribute to health problems like heart disease and diabetes. The first Sharing Smiles event hit all the right notes, raising awareness, promoting good oral health and communicating the very worthy goals of Oral Health, Total Health.
Susan Horvath
President, Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation
Thank you for a wonderful day! We had an enjoyable time at the Sharing Smiles event! We really appreciated how your volunteers and students interacted with the people we support and treated everyone with such respect and dignity.
Mary White
Manager of Alternative Day Program
Community Living Oakville
The best part of the event was the chance for these two groups to get to know each other–imagine sharing a laugh with a dentist!
Any time we can reduce anxiety around dental appointments we increase the likelihood of a successful outcome for the people we support, and it’s not just us who benefits. The dental students get a chance to meet and learn about a part of the population they may not have a lot of experience with–a group who may have some unique challenges to good oral health. There were a lot of ideas, experiences and suggestions being exchanged in a relaxed environment. It was a great opportunity and I hope it will be repeated.
Suzanne Aikman
Vocational Manager
Community Living Oakville
Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support this initiative, we could not do it without you.
With Heart, Health & Happiness,
Ali S
Ali:
Love the website!! So much information! The video is truly inspirational.
All my best wishes, Claire
Congratulations on launching this initiative. Your website is terrific – and the resource you are developing will have a long-lasting and positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. I look forward to further collaboration!
Ray Cohen
CEO and Founder
Canadian Abilities Foundation
As the mother of two children with autism, I cannot convey enough how important the OHTH Program is to me. Finally an advocate for the total health and wellness of our children has come through the field of dental medicine. The importance of oral health cannot be underestimated and has such an impact on their lives. We need this Program.
Kim C., Toronto
The website looks great and should be a great resource for many. I know a lot of work has gone into this and there is a lot of detail. Congratulations!
Winnie
Your site is the best
Hello, the site’s really interesting, Thank you for your dedication!
This is a very interesting post. Thanks.