2.5.1 Percentage of students who reported that they brushed their teeth more than once a day, by grade and gender, 2014
Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from the Health Behaviours of School Children (HBSC) Report – 2015.
Girls are more likely to brush their teeth more than once a day than are boys at all grade levels.
Older girls are more likely to brush their teeth more than once a day than are younger girls.
In 2014, 81% of girls in Grade 10 reported that they brushed their teeth more than once a day, compared with 61% of boys in Grade 10 and 74% of girls in Grade 6.
Implications
The Canadian Dental Association recommends that children use fluoridated toothpaste. For children from birth to 3 years of age, the use of fluoridated toothpaste is determined by the level of risk of tooth decay. Parents should consult a health professional to determine whether their child up to 3 years of age is at risk of developing tooth decay. If such a risk exists, the child’s teeth should be brushed by an adult using a minimal amount (a portion the size of a grain of rice) of fluoridated toothpaste. For children from 3 to 6 years of age, only a small amount (a portion the size of a green pea) of fluoridated toothpaste should be used. Children in this age group should be assisted by an adult in brushing their teeth – to ensure that an appropriate amount of toothpaste is used, that the child spits out the toothpaste rather than swallows it, and that the teeth are cleaned effectively. It is important that children brush their teeth before bedtime in order to remove the bacteria and sugars that cause cavities.
Source: Canadian Dental Association. Your Oral Health.https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/index.asp