If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what does it do for the dentist? While healthy eating is considered good for your overall health and well-being, it is also vitally important for your teeth and gums. But what about those who can’t afford an apple a day, never mind fluoride toothpaste, new toothbrushes or regular visits to the dentist?

This April, to mark National Oral Health Month, the Kelowna Community Food Bank has partnered with the Interior Health Authority to support the oral health habits of low-income families and individuals by providing a pre-packaged “goodie bag” in their monthly food hampers. Goodie bags will contain toothbrushes, dental floss, fluoridated toothpaste and oral health information for parents and children.

While dental care is important, it simply isn’t an option for many families living in poverty as our basic health care system doesn’t cover dental costs. Shawna Gibb, a public health dental hygienist with Interior Health presented the idea of Oral Health Month to the Kelowna Community Food Bank after hearing about successful pilot projects in Vancouver and Victoria.

“It can be frustrating in the public health dental community as we deal with a population that consists of high-risk families and individuals who just don’t have access to dental care,” she says. “If this project helps us close a gap somewhere and maybe change a few behaviors, as well as teach the importance of oral hygiene, it will be a small step in the right direction. It takes a community to make ideas work which is why partnerships such as the one with the Food Bank are great.”

Gibbs recognizes that people who don’t make a lot of money don’t see oral hygiene as a priority. “They worry about where their next meal is coming from or how to make rent. If the basic dental necessities can be provided for them and awareness about dental health spread during April it’s a really good thing.”

Dental disease is painful, expensive to treat and can lead to life threatening complications such as oral cancer. The Canadian Dental Association recommends these five steps to good oral health.

See your dentist for regular checkups to prevent problems or keep them from getting worse.

Practice good oral hygiene by brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush twice a day, and flossing daily.

Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid excessive amounts of sugar.

Check your mouth regularly for red or sore gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, or ongoing bad breath.

Don’t smoke or chew tobacco as tobacco use is a major cause of tooth loss through gum disease and may lead to serious problems like oral cancer.