VULNERABLE KIDS HAVE 2.5X MORE TOOTH DECAY*

We Have The Power To Help

There is a strong association between low income families and dental decay in Canada. Investing in a child’s oral health is an investment in their lifelong health.

To help vulnerable children, The Canadian Dental Association believes that oral health educational programs need to be incorporated as an integral part of public educational curriculums, outreach programs and community health centers in collaboration with dental organizations, child poverty and advocacy agencies, non-dental health care providers and government.¹

Set kids up for oral health success for a lifetime

Oral-B and Big Brothers, Big Sisters have partnered to create an innovative program to provide valuable hygiene education materials to children, support Big Brother Big Sister Mentors, boost oral health for mentees, and donate Oral-B powerbrushes to children in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. Your involvement can help empower these kids. For every Genius X Trial Brush you order online, one Oral-B Smart 2000 power brush will be donated to a vulnerable child. ^†

Early educational programs can impact the rest of their lives

In Canada, an estimated 2.26 million school‑days are missed each year due to dental-related illness. Research has shown that the earlier oral health promotion starts, the better the outcomes. Programs that educate caregivers and teachers about how to teach proper oral health self-care to children are vital for oral health. ²

The COHR (Canadian Oral Health Roundtable) advocates for initiating and promoting educational programs for children and their caregivers to help improve the oral health of vulnerable children. ²

There are a multitude of challenges that children with poor oral health face on a regular basis: ²

Tooth decay accounts for one-third of all day surgeries performed on children between the ages of 1 and 5
A child is five times more likely to seek emergency room treatment for dental problems than for asthma, often because they are unable to see a dentist, are uninsured or cannot afford routine dental care^‡
Half of all children enter kindergarten with tooth decay ^‡
Globally 60-90% of school-aged children have tooth decay

World wide, oral health has been recognized as a basic human right. Dental caries, which includes all stages of tooth decay, is the most common, yet preventable, chronic disease on the planet. As a country, we need to care for the 47% of lower-income Canadians who were identified as having a need for care identified vs. 26% in higher-income groups. ²

Devastating physical and developmental effects of oral pain

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, the ramifications of poor dental health can affect the functional, psychological and social dimensions of a child’s overall health. The devastation of oral pain can be seen in: ³

Lost sleep, poor growth, behavioural problems and poor learning
Developmental processes of communication, socialization and self-esteem

Powerbrushes are the solution to poor oral hygiene habits

Children are often unmotivated and incompliant when it comes to brushing their teeth and are particularly challenged in maintaining their overall oral health. They are also more likely to drink sugary, erosive beverages, and tend to ignore the long-term consequences of poor oral hygiene. ⁴

Using a power toothbrush, can make brushing more enjoyable and help children brush for the correct amount of time⁵
In a recent randomised study, researchers found an oscillating–rotating power toothbrush provided superior plaque reduction vs. a manual toothbrush in children ⁴

Your participation is an important contribution

Together, we have the power to make smiles happen. When you order your Genius X Trial Brush online, one Oral-B Smart 2000 power brush will be donated to a child in the Big Brother Big Sister Program. † A power brush can make a significant impact on children’s oral hygiene by helping to prevent tooth decay and contributing to a preventative oral care routine that can last a lifetime

* lowest income families compared to higher income families

† Up to 1000 Oral-B Powerbrushes between May 15 and July 15 (whichever comes first).

^‡In the US

References:

The Canadian Dental Association. Position Paper on Access to Oral Health Care for Canadians. Cited: June 2020. Available at: https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/about/position_statements/accesstocarePaper/
The Canadian Dental Association. The State of Oral Health in Canada. Cited: June 2020. Available at: https://www.cda-adc.ca/stateoforalhealth/
The Canadian Paediatric Society. Position Statement. Oral health care for children – a call for action. Posted: Jan 11, 2013. Reaffirmed: Feb 28, 2018. Available at: https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/oral-health-care-for-children
Davidovich E et al. Randomised Clinical Study of Plaque Removal Efficacy of a Power Toothbrush in a Paediatric Population. Int J Paediatr Dent 2017;27(6):558-567. doi: 10.1111/ipd.12298
Oral Health Foundation. Children’s Teeth. Cited: June 2020. Available at: https://www.dentalhealth.org/childrens-teeth