Gray-Bruce county seniors visited emergency for dental points at greater than twice Ontario’s price

The speed of seniors in Gray-Bruce, positioned nearly three hours’ driving distance west of Toronto, who visited the emergency division for dental considerations in 2022 was greater than double the provincial common, based on a press launch from Gray Bruce Public Well being on Monday.

Whereas older adults made up 23.6% of Bruce County’s inhabitants and 24.1% of Gray County’s—each considerably larger than the provincial share of 16.7%—amongst adults aged 85 and older, the odds in Gray-Bruce have been much like Ontario’s.

“Oral well being issues, that are extra prevalent in older adults, can negatively influence an individual’s high quality of life by inflicting ache, anxiousness, discomfort, and affecting consuming, sleep, and vanity,” mentioned Jason Weppler, Supervisor of the Oral Well being Program at Gray Bruce Public Well being.

“Proof additionally exhibits connections between oral ailments, resembling tooth decay and gum illness, and different well being circumstances like Kind 2 diabetes and cardiovascular and respiratory ailments.”

Up to now, Gray Bruce Public Well being said it’s collaborating with Bruce County to boost consciousness concerning the essential hyperlink between oral well being and total well-being, in addition to the provision of government-funded applications to assist eligible seniors cowl dental care prices.

The press launch additionally famous that seniors could qualify for help by each the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP).