Statistics Canadawith the aim of creating a reference point before possible changes related to the implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Planreleased its first-ever national oral health survey in Canada. It turns out that more than one in four Canadians (26%) suffer from mouth pain.

Based on data from theCanadian Oral Health SurveyThe publication, conducted from November 2023 to March 2024, highlights several indicators of oral health, including persistent mouth pain, toothlessness and other oral problems that lead people to avoid certain foods.

Avoid certain foods

“Adults ages 18 and older (29%) were more than twice as likely as children and adolescents ages 0 to 17 (14%) to report oral problems,” the report said.

“Among Canadian adults, 24% reported persistent mouth pain and nearly one in five Canadians (18%) reported avoiding certain foods due to oral problems.” » In comparison, only 11% of children and adolescents reported of mouth pain, and only 6% said they avoided certain foods because of mouth problems.

The organization also focuses on edentulism, which is more common among seniors and smokers. Four percent of adults reported losing all of their natural teeth.

The survey also examines the groups at higher risk for mouth pain, as well as the prevalence of this pain in different populations: “Approximately 46% of people of all ages with a disability reported persistent mouth or mouth pain.” Avoiding certain foods is attributed to oral problems, compared to 24% of people of all ages without disabilities,” the report authors write.

They also mention that 70% of Canadians brush their teeth at least twice a day.