These resource materials can help families learn about oral health for pregnant women, infants, and young children. Topics include dental visits, fluoride, nutrition, oral health care, oral hygiene, and safety and emergency first aid. Click on the PDFs for more information.
Cook’s Corner: Recipes for Healthy Snacks
Find simple recipes for healthy snacks that young children can make in Head Start programs or at home with their families. Recipes appeared in Brush Up on Oral Health issues published between 2012 and 2017.
Fluoride Varnish: Protect Your Child’s Smile
This brochure for parents provides information about the benefits of fluoride varnish for protecting primary teeth from decay. Topics include what fluoride varnish is and why it is recommended for infants and children, the safety of fluoride varnish, how it is applied, follow-up care, how long varnish and its benefits last, and costs.
Get the Facts About Oral Health
Many myths about the oral health of infants, young children, and pregnant women exist.
Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles
This series of handouts for pregnant women and parents of infants and young children provides simple tips on oral health issues. Early Head Start and Head Start health staff are encouraged to share the handouts with families to promote good oral health. The handouts are available in English and Spanish.
Share this brochure with Head Start parents to promote oral health in young children. Topics include the importance of primary teeth, visiting the dentist by age 1, and the roles of fluoride and oral hygiene in preventing tooth decay. It includes tips for checking and cleaning teeth and information on feeding. Available in a version for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
A Healthy Smile for Your Baby: Tips to Keep Your Baby Healthy
Early Head Start staff can use this brochure to teach expecting and new parents about the importance of oral care and hygiene for infants. It includes tips for taking care of an infant’s gums and teeth, feeding their infant healthy foods, and getting a dental checkup by age 1. Parents can learn to keep their own mouths healthy and find resources for finding a dentist.
A Healthy Smile for Your Young Child: Tips to Keep Your Child Healthy
Head Start staff can use this brochure to teach parents and caregivers the importance of oral care and hygiene during early childhood. It includes tips for brushing children’s teeth, feeding their children healthy foods, and getting dental checkups and treatment. Parents can learn to keep their own mouths healthy and find resources for finding a dentist.
This website provides resources to help parents teach children (ages 2-5) about oral hygiene. The resources include videos, tip sheets, games, quick facts, coloring pages, and resource guides. Topics include tooth brushing, nutrition, and visiting the dentist. There is also a guide for health providers.
Oral Health Self-Management Goals for Parents/Caregivers
This handout is designed to help parents and other caregivers establish goals related to oral hygiene, oral health care, and feeding and eating practices to improve their child’s oral health.
Oral Health: Tips for Families
Help parents understand the importance of good oral health habits for children. This tip sheet provides tips for brushing children’s teeth, teaching children how to brush, eating healthy snacks, avoiding sugary drinks and foods, and visiting the dentist.
Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water
This book is designed to help parents and early childhood education and care professionals talk to young children about making healthy drink choices. There is a story, a counting and tracing page, a coloring page, and a pictograph showing the amount of sugar in popular drinks.
Questions to Ask When Looking for a Dental Office
Finding a dental office that is best for you and your child can be hard. Here are some questions that you can ask a dental office before you decide to make an appointment.
Two Healthy Smiles: Tips to Keep You and Your Baby Healthy
Oral care and hygiene in pregnant women is critical. Head Start staff can highlight the importance of brushing, flossing, eating healthy foods, and getting dental checkups and treatment. Other topics include the impact of hormonal changes during pregnancy on gum health, caring for an infant’s gums and teeth, and finding a dentist.
Help children learn to brush their teeth using this illustrated guide. It was developed especially for parents in the Pacific Islands and other rural settings. It helps teach parents how to recognize tooth decay.