Red Flags — - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

DENTAL
Problem signs
NUTRITION & ORAL HEALTH
The Ontario Association of Public Health Dentistry recommends the first visit to a dentist should
occur at one year of age.
…the presence of any of the following risk factors for early childhood tooth decay should be
considered a red flag:
Prolonged exposure of teeth
to sugars
►► Through the use of bottle, breast, sippee cups,
plastic bottles with straws (includes formula,
juice, milk and breast milk)
►► High sugar consumption
►► Sweetened pacifiers
►► Long term sweetened medication
►► Going to sleep with a bottle containing
anything but water
Other Risk Factors
►► Poor oral hygiene
►► Sibling history of early childhood tooth decay
►► Lack of knowledge of primary caregiver
regarding risk
►► Lower socioeconomic status
►► Limited access to dental care
►► Deficits in parenting skills and child
management
►► Prolonged use of a bottle beyond one year
►► Breastfeeding or bottle feeding without
cleaning gums and teeth
Physiological Factors
►► Those associated with poor enamel
development, such as prenatal nutritional
status of mother and child, poor prenatal
health, and malnutrition of the child
►► Possible enamel deficiencies related to
prematurity or low birth weight
►► Mother and child’s lack of exposure to fluoride
►► Transference of oral bacteria from another
person to a child between 19-31 months of
age, through frequent kissing or sharing of
utensils
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP
See Dental in the Where to Go for Help section
at the back of this document.
November 2007
Red Flags: Early Identification in Leeds, Grenville & Lanark
25