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Parents & Families

Lost My First Tooth

It finally happened – they lost their first tooth!

As soon as your child’s teeth start coming in, you know the day is going to come when they smile wide and show off those adorable empty spaces. Their smile is changing before your eyes.

When your child’s first tooth falls out, they’ll have a lot of questions. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! Here you’ll find some fun and useful facts that will guide you from their first loose tooth to their brand new smile:

My First Teeth

It's such an exciting moment when your baby flashes a smile and you see tiny, pearl-white teeth start to appear! Although the teething process can cause a baby to be fussy,  it signals an important moment in their growth and dental care. It also means the beginning of full, healthy smiles! Here are some really great tips for this big Smilestone:

The 2nd Smilestone - Teething Toddlers

The first step toward your baby's full, bright smile can be a bit of a pain. Literally! We're talking about Teething, of course.

Teething can start any time between ages 3 and 12 months. Most babies begin teething around the age of 6 months. As primary teeth come through, your baby might become cranky, drool more, not want to eat solid foods, have sore gums or swollen gums, and chew on things to ease the pressure from the tooth pushing through the gum.

The 1st Smilestone - Gummy Smiles

A healthy smile is a lifelong journey! As children grow and develop healthy smiles, we get to see – and celebrate! – these moments, called Smilestones. Beginning with healthy habits at home, to your child's changing smile and healthy dental care, Smilestones help highlight specific moments that you should be aware of as your child's teeth grow in. Think of it as a checklist to remind you of all of the healthy habits that guide your little ones on the road to bright, grown-up smiles.

TeethFirst! Announces Smilestones Campaign and Photo Contest for Spring 2017

TeethFirst!  - Rhode Island’s own initiative promoting early dental visits - is pleased to announce Smilestones – an online campaign to celebrate the moments in bright smiles and raise awareness about children's oral health. Smilestones will also be hosting a photo contest, which is a picture perfect opportunity for families to show off their little ones' smiles and healthy dental habits —all for the chance to win a $50 Gift Card!

Rhode Island Children and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

For many years, our state and federal leaders have made a big investment  in keeping kids healthy by increasing their access to health care coverage.

Building on the success of RIte Care (Rhode Island’s Medicaid and CHIP Program), the Affordable Care Act (ACA) further helped children gain access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive health and dental coverage.

HealthSource RI Open Enrollment: Get Covered and Stay Covered!

Open enrollment for health and dental coverage through HealthSource RI ends January 31, 2017. HealthSource RI is Rhode Island’s health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act. Health plans and dental plans are available.  Find coverage that fits your needs and budget.

How to Enroll

6 Healthy Tooth Goals for Your Family

There are many things you can do to prevent your child from getting cavities. We have put together a list of some of the most important steps you can take to make sure your child's teeth and gums stay healthy. Can you do them all? Yes, you can!

1) Brush and floss

Sugar and Your Child: How Much is TOO Much?

How much sugar does your child consume each day? Chances are, it’s a lot more than the new recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) about specific sugar limits for kids. The AHA states that children and teens should consume less than 6 teaspoons of “added sugars” a day and drink no more than 8 ounces of sugary beverages a week. What’s more, children under age 2 shouldn’t have any added sugars in their diets.

Healthy teeth for you and your baby

A healthy pregnancy includes having a healthy mouth! It’s important to keep up your healthy dental habits now that you’re pregnant.  This includes:

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TeethFirst! Creating healthy smiles for a lifetime.