Did you know that 96 per cent of Canadian adults have had one or more cavities and that cavities are the most common non-communicable disease in adults and children worldwide?
As Oral Health Month draws to a close, a new report by Fraser Health’s chief medical health officer utilizes public health data to raise awareness of the effects of oral health on the lives of people in the Fraser Health region.
As chief medical health officer for Fraser Health, Dr. Ingrid Tyler’s primary mandate is to prevent disease, protect health and promote wellness. Dr. Tyler selected oral health as the focus for her report, Oral health in the Fraser Health region: Opportunities for action, given the significant connection between oral health and overall health and well-being.
Poor oral health can lead to gum disease, which has been associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and poor pregnancy outcomes.
“Many people don’t realize the enormous impact that oral health can have on our physical, mental and emotional well-being,” says Dr. Tyler. “By sharing data, evidence and best practices from Fraser Health and other jurisdictions, this report aims to stimulate conversation about oral health, fluoridation practices and oral health inequities.”
In her report, Dr. Tyler provides an analysis of the most recent dental survey of kindergarten students. A closer look at the Fraser Health data shows 33 per cent of kindergarten students in the Fraser Health region have had at least one cavity. Kindergarteners living in the lowest-income neighbourhoods experienced a cavity rate of 40 per cent, while children residing in the highest income neighbourhoods experienced a cavity rate of only 27 per cent.
Like the kindergarten age group, there is also evidence that social inequities influence oral health among adults, particularly for racialized populations, immigrants, Indigenous populations, people who identified as transgender or nonbinary, and those with disabilities.
Financial barriers prevent many Canadians from accessing dental care. An estimated 20 per cent of residents in the Fraser Health region do not have dental coverage. This is mitigated in part by B.C. dental supplements and more recently, the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Specialized dental programs are available to assist people in accessing necessary dental care. For example, Fraser Health operates a fluoride varnish program for children to help prevent cavities, reaching nearly 7,000 families annually. Families can determine their eligibility for these services by contacting their local public health unit or visiting a public health dental outreach clinic in the community.
Although fluoride is known to improve oral health, B.C. is one of only five provinces in which less then two per cent of the community water supply is fluoridated. Currently, no communities in the Fraser Health region are fluoridating their water. Fraser Health will continue to work alongside local governments and health care partners in support of community water fluoridation.
“Poor oral health has a profound effect not only on individuals but on the wider community, resulting in increased health care costs and lost work and school days,” says Dr. Tyler. “Through increased public awareness, monitoring, and collaboration across public health, dental professionals, governments, and Indigenous partners, we can continue to build awareness of the diversity of population dental needs and work together to promote equity and improve oral health for all.”
Read the full report www.fraserhealth.ca/2025oralhealth
About Fraser Health:
We recognize that Fraser Health provides care on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.
Fraser Health is dedicated to serving all Indigenous people, and honours the unique cultures of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit living within the Fraser Salish region.
Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities.
