Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (July 08/02) - Robin Stout is on a mission. The three-year resident of Iqaluit wants to do what she can to end tooth decay among Nunavummiut.

After getting a grant from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, she's one step closer to realizing her goal.

"I'm just starting a program of oral health resources that will be available in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and English to all communities in Nunavut," explained Stout, a dental hygienist, who has seen teeth from as far west as the Deh Cho in the NWT to North Baffin communities.

While only two to three per cent of the Canadian population suffers from childhood tooth decay, statistics show the disease runs as high as 80 per cent in some areas of Nunavut.

"Nunavut has the highest incidence of (childhood tooth decay) in North America," said Stout.

"It means kids are prone to more infections and often have to have teeth removed prematurely."

Stout said she planned to develop the resources this summer in time to go out for translation this fall. She hopes the campaign will result in more dollars being funnelled into awareness of the disease and its causes.

"High sugar diets, sweet liquids in baby bottles and sipping liquids frequently all cause tooth decay," said Stout.

"We say, 'sip all day and get tooth decay.'"