New Canada report: More adults are keeping their teeth, but gum health is declining

A new Canadian statistical report shows that more adults in Canada are keeping their teeth, but gum health is getting worse, highlighting a gap between tooth retention and overall oral health.

The report found that 18.5 percent of men and 15.6 percent of women in Canada rated their oral health as fair or poor. Worse outcomes were also recorded among lower income groups, some racialized populations, and people who do not visit a dentist every year or brush their teeth twice a day.

The data also showed a clear income gap. The share of adults reporting fair or poor oral health reached 23.5 percent in the lowest income group, compared with just 7.6 percent in the highest income group.

The findings add to growing concern about oral health in Canada, especially as declining gum health affects more than teeth alone, touching pain, chewing ability, and quality of daily life. The report also points to ongoing social and economic inequalities in oral health, even as some overall indicators, such as tooth retention, have improved.