OHTH is involved in hosting initiatives that emphasize the importance and treatment of oral health care for persons with special needs.

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.