A new dental health initiative aimed at infants and toddlers will see 4,000 baby shark bags given to new moms at Windsor Regional Hospital.
The bags have the cartoon face of smiling shark on the front and lots of informational literature inside — they even come with an infant finger brush, baby teeth flosser and toothpaste.
Dr. Domenico Aversa says the first-time initiative will be re-assessed after a year to see if it's having the desired affect.
"We will know that if parents are bringing their kids in as we suggest before their first birthday, then we know that message is getting across," says Aversa.
The Essex County Dental Society, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the City of Windsor are partnering in the initiative meant to address high rates of decay seen in babies and toddlers in the area.
Aversa says baby teeth are just as important to take care of as adult teeth.
"Baby teeth are important," says Aversa. "They're important to guiding in the permanent teeth, so if baby teeth are missing the permanent teeth won't grow into the proper position. There could be bite problems, there could be orthodontic problems."
He says the domino effect can be staggering.
"Baby teeth or primary teeth are important for chewing; so if a child doesn't have his full compliment of teeth, he's not going to be eating properly, if he's not eating properly he's not getting proper nutrition, if he's not getting proper nutrition he's probably not going to learn properly and develop as fully as he should," says Aversa.
Part of the education initiative tells parents dental care should begin before the first tooth comes in. Dental professionals suggest parents and caregivers wipe the baby's mouth and gums using a clean, warm cloth after each feeding and before bed.
Kits are set to begin rolling out this week.
As for the choice of a shark as the bag's mascot, Aversa didn't say it was the rows of replacement teeth a shark has that made it a good fit for the initiative, but rather looked "very, very cute" and beat out a buck tooth rabbit for the job.