Children's Dental Health

The Cambridge Public Health Department's Healthy Smiles program provides free oral health education and screenings in Cambridge public, private, and independent schools. The program also offers this service to all Cambridge preschools.

The program was established in 1997 after a needs assessment by Dr. Chester Douglass of Harvard School of Dental Medicine found that nearly a third of Cambridge first graders had untreated cavities.

Healthy Smiles has been enormously successful in identifying Cambridge children at risk for dental disease. About 3,000 elementary school children, preschoolers, and toddlers are screened each year. During the 2008-2009 school year, almost one in four children were referred to a dentist for treatment.

Dental Health Tips for Parents

Parents who develop good oral health habits for their babies and toddlers, including regular dental visits, are giving their children a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Here are some simple things parents can do:

• Make sure your children are brushing twice a day, in the morning and evening.
• Every child should visit a dentist by their first birthday, and twice a year after that.
• Tap water is a good source of fluoride. Bottled water doesn't contain enough to prevent tooth decay.

Cambridge Resources

Act now to prevent dental problems later in your child's life. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, free dental screenings are offered to all children from pre-K to grade 4 through the city's public, charter, and parochial schools. During the 2008-09 school year, 2,523 children received screenings, and 613 were referred for dental treatment.

If you don't have a dentist, contact the Windsor Street Dental Clinic (617-665-3990), a program of the Cambridge Health Alliance, for information about insurance and help finding a dental care provider.