Teeth First! Teeth First!
TeethFirst!

Parents & Families

Disturbing gaps in oral health literacy

Written by: Alice Horowitz and Dushanka V. Kleinman

This guest blog post was co-authored by Alice Horowitz and Dushanka V. Kleinman, faculty members at University of Maryland School of Public Health (SPH). This blog post was written for the Children's Dental Health Project blog: TeethMatter and is shared with permission.

Rhode Island Mission of Mercy

Free Dental Care for Rhode Islanders - Rhode Island Mission of Mercy to Be Held on May 30 and 31 at CCRI's Flanagan Campus in Lincoln
 
Regular dental visits provide a chance for early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases for people of all ages. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to see a dentist, whether it’s because of a lack of dental insurance, the inability to take time off from work, or simply not realizing that a healthy mouth is important to a healthy body. 
 

Toothsavers Brushing Game & Mobile App Makes Brushing Fun!

Toothsavers Brushing Game & Mobile App Makes Brushing Fun!
 
Right now, 91% of American adults spend an average of 2 hours per day using their cellphone for activities other than making phone calls. Children are also using their parents’ phones, and the games they play on them can have a big impact on their habits. 
 

Visit Our New Webpage: Keeping Teeth Healthy at Home!

There's a lot that parents and caregivers can do to keep a child's teeth healthy at home.

In fact, good oral health starts there by brushing twice a day for two minutes each time, and flossing once a day. Good tooth care combined with regular visits to the dentist can be very helpful in preventing problems.

Every stage of childhood has its own set of recommendations for tooth care.

TeethFirst! has put together a handy guide for parents and caregivers to follow so they will know how to care for a child's teeth starting from birth to over age 8.

Announcing Our New Web Page: Nutrition for Healthy Teeth

Did you know that even though you can't see them yet, a baby's teeth are almost completely formed at birth? Even a baby's permanent teeth are starting to form at the same time! This means that even though you might not be able to see them yet, it is very important to feed your child healthy foods that will help keep teeth growing strong.  And even though your young child will lose her baby teeth, it is still very important to take good care of them like you would care for her permanent adult teeth.

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.

Pages

TeethFirst! Creating healthy smiles for a lifetime.