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Oral Health Promotion

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Halton Region actively promotes and is committed to improving the oral health of our residents.

Oral Health Promotion in Halton Region

Halton Region actively promotes good habits to support a healthy mouth throughout your life. Here are some examples of what we do:

  • Develop oral health promotion activities and distribute oral health resources.
  • Oral health screening at public health clinics elementary schools, and tele-screening on the phone or virtually.
  • Develop resources for teachers to include oral health education in school curriculum.
  • Determine eligibility for dental financial assistance programs.
  • Participate in community events and partner with local organizations to promote oral health programs and services. Interested community partners can contact our Community Outreach team at oralhealthoutreach@halton.ca to connect with us! The Community Outreach team also has “Reach and Teach Kits” available to borrow. Call 311 or email accesshalton@halton.ca if your organization is interested in reserving a kit.

Oral health tips

A healthy mouth is an important part of overall health. Poor oral health has been linked to:

  • heart disease;
  • stroke; and
  • pre-term low birth weight babies.

Brushing and flossing are the most important things you can do to help your teeth last a lifetime. Brush twice a day for two minutes each time and floss once a day. Ensure a balanced diet and follow the guidelines in Canada’s Food Guide (external link). Learn more by visiting Health Canada’s oral health pages (external link).

Dental emergencies can happen at any time (external link). Keep reading to learn how to protect against them and what to do if they occur.

Oral hygiene at different ages

Babies and toddlers aged 0-3

  • Baby teeth matter! Baby teeth are important for chewing food, learning to speak properly, holding space for adult teeth, appearance and overall health and well-being.
  • Clean your baby’s mouth even before they have teeth by wiping their gums morning and night with a clean wet washcloth.
  • Early childhood tooth decay (ECTD) (external link) is a condition where baby teeth decay quickly. This can affect the position of the adult teeth and is difficult to treat. To help prevent ECTD, check your child’s teeth once a month for brown, black or white spots and take them to the dentist.
  • If you are using a bottle, do not allow your child to take it to bed.
  • If you choose to use a sippy cup, only put water in it.
  • If you are using a soother, do not dip it in sweetened liquids or put it in your mouth.
  • Your child’s first dental visit should be before age one or within six months of getting their first tooth.
  • When teeth begin to appear, brush them at least twice a day using a small soft toothbrush and tap water.
  • Once your child is 3 years old, use fluoridated toothpaste unless your dentist or healthcare provider tells you to use it earlier. Use only a smear of toothpaste and encourage your child to spit it out.
  • To learn more, visit Oral Health Tips for Children Aged 0-3 (external link)

Children aged 4-12

Youth aged 13-17

  • The best foods for a healthy mouth are low in sugar and starch. Limit snacks and drinks that contain sugar and carbohydrates/starches, like candy bars, cookies and juice/energy drinks.
  • Of all the body parts, the mouth is most frequently injured during contact sports. Wearing a mouthguard while playing is a great way to protect the teeth. Talk to your oral health professional about the different types and cost of mouthguards.
  • If you choose to have oral piercings, learn about the risks involved. Talk to your dental provider about how to keep the piercing site clean and surrounding tissues healthy. Find a professional at a clean establishment who can answer your questions. Visit Halton’s youth/piercings page for more information.

Adults aged 18-64

  • Taking care of your mouth during pregnancy is important for your health and your child’s. Having healthy teeth and gums may lower your risk of having a premature or low birth weight baby. Continue brushing twice a day and floss daily, visit your dental provider and eat a healthy diet. Visit Halton’s pregnancy and prenatal health pages to learn more.
  • Drugs, smoking, alcohol and vaping can negatively impact your oral health. Over time, they can lead to dry mouth, inflammation, enamel damage, staining and put you at risk of oral cancer. Ensure you have regular oral cancer screenings with your dental provider.

Older adults aged 65+

  • Older adults have higher risk of tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth and oral cancer.
  • Maintain good dental health as you age by seeing your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings.
  • Many older adults are able to keep their natural teeth. If several teeth are missing, dentures, implants or other prosthetics can help.

Fluoride in the drinking water

Tooth decay is the most common disease in children. Municipalities add small and controlled levels of fluoride to our drinking water supply to help in the prevention of tooth decay.

What is water fluoridation and why is it so important?

Water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the natural occurrence of fluoride in our municipal water supply to a level that will optimize dental benefits. Fluoride additives meet the standard of quality before being added to water at the recommended levels.

Water fluoridation is important because:

  • Research has shown that fluoride in drinking water reduces the number of cavities in children and youth.
  • Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children (five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever!)

Water fluoridation in Halton

Public water systems
  • Halton Region's Certified Water Treatment Operators add and monitor fluoride in our water supply.
  • When fluoride is added to the water supply it is maintained at the Ontario Ministry of the Environment recommended levels of 0.5-0.8 parts per million (ppm) for optimal tooth decay prevention.
  • Fluoridation does not occur in the older section of Milton, although the groundwater-based system contains natural fluoride of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) to 0.15 ppm.
  • Natural fluoride levels in Halton region are too low for the prevention of tooth decay.
  • Any municipal supply of drinking water in Halton Region is safe to use for the preparation of infant formula, whether fluoride is added to the water supply or not. Water should be sterilized before mixing with formula. Visit Halton’s infant feeding guidance for more information.
  • Most water filters do not remove fluoride from municipal drinking water.
Private well water
  • Halton Region does not treat or add anything to private well water.
  • Well water fluoride levels can vary substantially.
  • Well owners must maintain and test their well water for bacteria. A private laboratory will test your water to assess fluoride levels as well. Find out how to have your well water tested.

Organizations that support water fluoridation

A number of reviews on the effectiveness of water fluoridation have been conducted over the last 10 years. Over 90 dental and public health organizations support fluoridation, including:

  • The World Health Organization
  • Health Canada
  • The Canadian and American Dental Associations
  • The Canadian Public Health Association
  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Information about water fluoridation:

Are there any health risks associated with water fluoridation?

  • A 2018 review conducted by Public Health Ontario reaffirmed the safety of optimally fluoridated drinking water.
  • Fluorosis occurs when too much fluoride is swallowed during the tooth formation years (0-6 for front teeth). Sources of fluoride also include toothpaste and fluoride supplements. In mild cases, fluorosis appears as white flecks on the tooth surface.
  • Long term excessive fluoride consumption (levels greater than 4 ppm) can cause skeletal fluorosis or osteoporosis.

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