Children's Dental Health

Good dental health for children leads to good overall health. Having healthy teeth helps children eat, talk, smile and learn in school.

Preventative Dental Care

Taking Care of Your Baby’s and Child’s Teeth

The Public Health Services Children’s Preventive Dental Clinics provide free preventive dental care and Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) assessments for Hamilton residents under 18 years of age who have a low income. Dental services include cleaning teeth, fluoride, and dental sealants. If your child is enrolled in HSO, they can be seen in the clinic. If your child is NOT already enrolled in HSO and you have a low income, you can book a dental screening. Call 905-546-2424 ext.5369 to book an appointment.

Note: The locations are fragrance / scent free environments

Children’s Preventative Dental Clinics locations and hours

The Children’s Preventive Dental Clinics are open by appointment only at these times and locations.

The Public Health Services Dental Clinics also provide free dental services such as exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions or removal of teeth for children and youth under 18 years of age with low income by appointment only. Call 905-546-2424 ext.5369 to book an appointment.

Downtown Dental Clinic locations and hours

Registered Dental Hygienists and Certified Dental Assistants will be visiting all Hamilton elementary schools to provide oral health screenings to JK, SK and Grade 2 students. Additional grades may be screened.

What is a school dental screening?

During a dental screening, a Registered Dental Hygienist uses a sterilized mirror and flashlight to look in the child’s mouth. If any urgent dental needs are seen, such as holes in the teeth or signs of infection, the dental hygienist will contact the parent or guardian to ensure the child receives any necessary treatment and to see if they need help accessing dental care. Please note, the dental screening does NOT replace a check-up at a dental office.

If you have any questions about school dental screenings or our free dental programs, please call 905-546-2424 ext. 5369.

The Ministry of Health requires all public health units to carry out dental screenings for select grades in Ontario Elementary Schools. The screenings also inform future dental programming for our community.

Each child is sent home with their screening results in a sealed card marked confidential. If your child was not screened, it will be noted on the card.

The Dental Screening Team will follow the most up-to-date Public Health Ontario Best Practice Guidelines for School Dental Screenings and the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Guidelines while at the school.

Yes! If you would like your child screened and they aren’t in the listed grades, please send a note to the school before to the screening date. We would be happy to screen your child.

If you do not want your child screened, please send a note to the school before the school screening date.

Your child may have refused to be screened at the time of screening.

Your child may have had a respiratory symptom or was sick at the time of screening, please call us at 905-546-2424 ext. 5369 when your child feels well to schedule a screening at one of our clinic locations.

If your child was away from school on the day we visited and you would like your child screened, please call us at 905-546-2424 ext. 5369 to schedule a screening at one of our clinic locations.

Yes, please call 905-546-2424 ext. 5369 to book an appointment for your child to be screened at one of our two Children’s Preventive Dental Clinics.

If you received a Parent Notification Form in the mail, please contact the Registered Dental Hygienist directly at their extension listed on the first page of the form. The Dental Hygienist would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Babies

Babies can get cavities just like older children and adults.

How to keep your baby’s teeth healthy

Clean your baby’s teeth every day
Lift your baby’s lip once a month to look at their teeth and gums
Take your baby to visit the dentist for the first time when they are one year old
Your child should drink from a cup without a lid by 18 months old
Use a favourite toy, hugs, stories or songs to comfort your child instead of using a bottle or sippy cup, breastfeeding or food
Letting your baby sleep while breastfeeding or with a bottle of juice or milk can harm their teeth.

How to clean your baby’s teeth at different ages

Wipe your baby’s teeth and gums with a wet cloth after feeding them, starting from birth.
When your baby gets teeth, use a soft infant toothbrush and water to clean their teeth.
If your child is under three years old, ask your dentist if you should use toothpaste to brush their teeth.
When your child is three years old, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to brush their teeth twice each day. Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste after you finish brushing.

Children

It is important that your child’s teeth are brushed twice a day, for at least 2 minutes. Use toothpaste with fluoride (size of a pea) to help reduce cavities. Daily flossing of your child’s teeth is also important. Depending on your child’s age, you might need to help them brush and floss their teeth to make sure their teeth are clean. Dental problems can cause poor sleeping, trouble eating, and make it hard to pay attention in school and at home.

Check your child’s teeth at least once a month. Visit a dentist if you see any of these signs:

Broken or chipped teeth
Holes in their teeth
Pain
Swelling

Track your child’s dental health and development with this checklist.

If your child is between 18 and 24 months, does she or he have at least 12 teeth?	yes/no	By 18 months, most children have 12 to 16 teeth. The first teeth to come in are the front teeth, followed by the teeth in the back.
If your child is between 25 and 36 months, does he or she have at least 16 teeth?	yes/no	By 36 months, most children have 18 to 20 teeth.
Does an adult clean your child’s teeth every day?	yes/no	Clean your child’s teeth daily using a rice-sized portion of toothpaste. The most important time to clean your child’s teeth is before going to sleep at night.
Are your child’s teeth shiny and white?	yes/no	Even toddlers can get tooth decay. Check your child’s teeth at least once a month. Lift the upper lip to see the teeth right up to the gum line. If teeth have chalky-white or brown spots or teeth are chipped or broken, take your child to a dentist.
Has your child seen a dentist or dental hygienist?	yes/no	Children should have their teeth checked by the time they are one year old by a dentist or a registered dental hygienist so any problems are found early.
Does your child drink mostly from a cup without a lid?	yes/no	By 18 months, your child should drink from a cup without a lid. Do not let your child constantly sip from a bottle or sippy cup filled with milk, formula, juice, pop, Kool-aid or sugar water.
Does your child sleep without a bottle?	yes/no	If your child must have a bottle to fall asleep, fill it with plain water. If you are breastfeeding, take your child off the breast when he or she is done actively feeding.
Does your child have set times during the day for meals and snacks?	yes/no	Your child should have no more than five to six set meal and snack times during the day. Frequent snacking can cause cavities, especially if foods are sticky and sweet. Examples of healthy snacks are cheese, whole grain crackers, yogurt, fruit and vegetables. For snack time drinks, offer plain water, milk or unsweetened fruit or vegetable juice. When your child is thirsty at other times, offer plain water.

If you answered “no” to three or more questions on the checklist, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about your child’s teeth.

If you do not have a dentist, call Public Health Services at 905-546-2424 ext. 3789 to speak with one of our dental staff.

Source: Adapted from the Community Dental Health Services Research Unit, Ontario Government’s Health Systems Linked Research Units

Federal & Provincial Dental Programs

The CDCP is a federally funded program designed to cover routine and essential care for eligible Canadians.

Eligibility

Canadian residents
family net income below $90,000
do not have access to dental insurance
seniors aged 65 and over
children under 18
people with disabilities
As of May 1, 2025 all Canadian residents aged 18-64

Review CDCP eligibility requirements

Review available CDCP services

Coordination of Benefits
The Canadian Dental Care plan (CDCP) works alongside existing Ontario dental programs. Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) will act as a secondary payer, with CDCP as the primary or first payer. This coordination ensures children receive the maximum coverage available under both programs.

Date modified

August 21, 2025

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