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What to Expect During Your Baby's First Dental Visit: A TeethFirst! Video

At TeethFirst!, we understand that parents and caregivers might be a little unsure about taking their very young child to the dentist for the first time.

To help you feel more comfortable, we made a video to show you that the first dental visit is quick and that the dentist's office is a safe place with friendly people who want your baby to have a healthy smile.

Watch the video to learn more about what to expect at your baby's first visit to the dentist! 

 

A TeethFirst! Video: Why Early Dental Visits Matter

Doctors, dentists, and other health care providers suggest that babies see a dentist by age one.

To help families understand why they make this recommendation, TeethFirst! asked some Rhode Island dentists and dental hygienists to explain why they think it is important for very young children to see a dentist.

Watch the video and learn why very early dental visits are a great idea. 

What to do if Dental Trauma Happens at Home: Permanent Teeth

Written by: Avani Khera, DMD

From playing sports, to roughhousing with their siblings, many children suffer trauma to their teeth. Many dental injuries are sports-related, most commonly due to basketball or baseball. Making sure your child wears a mouth guard, helmet, and face guard during sports activities is an important way of preventing dental trauma from happening in the first place! Custom mouth guards are recommended and available through your dentist. Generic mouthguards are available over the counter at most drug stores.

What to do if Dental Trauma Happens at Home: Baby Teeth

Written by: Avani Khera, DMD

Accidents happen!

From playing sports, to roughhousing with their siblings, many children suffer trauma to their teeth. Many dental injuries are sports-related, most commonly due to basketball or baseball. Making sure your child wears a mouth guard, helmet, and face guard during sports activities is an important way of preventing dental trauma from happening in the first place! Custom mouth guards are recommended and available through your dentist. Generic mouthguards are available over the counter at most drug stores.

Parents Say: "My Kids Forget to Brush Their Teeth"

According to a recent survey released by the national Ad Council, 75% of the parents surveyed said that their children either sometimes or frequently forget to brush their teeth.

This is very concerning, since  more than 51 million school hours are missed due to dental-related issues that could be prevented with good tooth care at home. No child needs to have a cavity or pain in their mouth!

What's happening?

TeethFirst! Turns 1 - Thank You for Your Support!

Can you believe it? TeethFirst! launched a year ago!

As part of TeethFirst!, free educational materials (brochures, posters, and PDFs) are available on our website. Anyone can access these materials, and order free hard copies. Thank you to the following practices and organizations that have shared our materials with their staff, patients, and clients over the past year!

How Much Toothpaste Should I Put on my Child's Toothbrush?

When it comes to toothpaste, if some is good, more must be better, right? Actually, no!

Using the correct amount of fluoride toothpaste on a child's toothbrush is really important. Little mouths cannot handle all the bubbles and foam that a large amount of toothpaste can create. Small children could swallow or choke on the toothpaste. Swallowing too much toothpaste is not healthy. In order to make sure your child is using the correct amount of fluoride toothpaste, we have created a guide to help you decide how much to use for your child's age.

Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids

Parents - we know! You're tired and you've got a lot of things to do. You're trying to fold some laundry or pay some bills when your child comes to you in need of a snack.

Many parents are tempted to hand their child an unhealthy snack because it's fast, easy, tastes good, and it makes them happy.

TeethFirst! wants you to know that there are many nutritious snack options that will help keep little tummies fuller for longer and little teeth free of cavities!

Why are sweet treats bad for my child's teeth?

Are Pacifiers Good For Baby's Mouth?

Paci, Binky, Nukie. Whatever cute name you and your child may have for it, chances are that a pacifier will be a part of every child's life at some point. Many parents and caregivers wonder if pacifiers can cause problems for baby's developing teeth and mouth. Today, TeethFirst! weighs in on this topic.

Why do babies use pacifiers?

Strategies for Parents to Prepare Children for Dental Visits

This blog posting is excerpted from the National Center on Health's Brush Up on Oral Health monthly e-newsletter.

What young children hear about the dentist affects their idea of what upcoming visits will be like. When children hear others talk negatively of the dentist, they may feel afraid of visiting the dentist or dental hygienist. Here are some tips to make sure your child has a happy first dental visit:

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