1.2 Background

a.What is the Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI)?

COHI is a dental initiative designed to prevent and control tooth decay in young First

Nations and Inuit (FN/I) children and to set the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth.

b.Who is Eligible for COHI?

COHI is aimed at:

• children aged 0–4 years

• children aged 5–7 years*

• pregnant women, parents and caregivers of children aged 0 to 7 years

* Children who turn eight within the school year can continue to receive COHI services

until the end of the year. The COHI year is September 1st to August 31st. Here are

two examples:

• a child who is 7 in September and turns 8 in

October of that COHI year is eligible for the whole

year

• a child who has already reached his/her eighth birthday

by the start of the COHI year is not eligible

c.Why Were These Groups Chosen?

The children were chosen because:

• FN/I children have high rates of early childhood tooth

decay

• rotten teeth are painful for children

• too many children under the age of six need to have

dental surgery in a hospital and have general anaesthetic

(be put to sleep) to have their teeth fixed

• having general anaesthesia can be dangerous and may increase overall medical risks

• by the age of three, some children have been hospitalized many times to have their

Pregnant women, parents and caregivers were chosen because:

• when adults don’t take care of their own mouths, they can transmit bacteria which causes

tooth decay to children

• when adults take good care of their teeth, they set a good example and have a positive

impact on their children’s health and life

Key Message

TOOTH DECAY IS PREVENTABLE AND

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

d. Goals of COHI

• improve oral health for children and, in doing so, improve their overall general health

• teach parents and caregivers how to prevent dental diseases for themselves and their

children

• prevent tooth decay in babies and young children and to avoid the need for unpleasant

dental treatment

• introduce babies and young children to dentistry that is successful, painless and fun

Key Message

HEALTHY TEETH AS A CHILD LEADS