While most Canadians enjoy good oral health there are subgroups within our population that currently bear a disproportionate burden of oral disease, these tend to be our most vulnerable but they may be people you wouldn’t expect because something as simple as not having dental insurance can be a huge barrier to accessing dental care.
Oral health is not isolated. It is linked to the health of the rest of the body. Very important body systems like the heart, lungs, brain and even unborn babies can be adversely affected by poor oral health. Microorganisms from oral infections can enter the bloodstream or airways and travel to other parts of the body and can cause or have the potential to worsen or increase the risk of other types of health problems.