--- title: Healthy Smiles Begin at Birth description: Healthy Smiles Begin at Birth image: https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/SMCCR%20-%20Oral%20Hygiene.png --- [![Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png?width=666&height=414&name=Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png "Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo")](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication) Open main menu Close main menu [Show Me Child Care Resources](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/show-me-child-care-resources) # Healthy Smiles Begin at Birth [Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/author/child-care-aware-of-missouri) [Share this blog post via Email](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EHealthy+Smiles+Begin+at+Birth%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post%3A+https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/smccr-healthy-smiles-begin-at-birth) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/smccr-healthy-smiles-begin-at-birth) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/smccr-healthy-smiles-begin-at-birth) ![](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/SMCCR%20-%20Oral%20Hygiene.png) Healthy Smiles Begin at Birth Best Practices for Good Oral Hygiene Tooth decay is a serious public health concern. Yet so much can be done to prevent this problem. As a child care professional, you can help families and young children understand the importance of healthy oral hygiene practices. Children will discover that keeping their mouths healthy helps them keep their bodies healthy, and educating families about the importance of this topic will help to reinforce these concepts as well. Resources provided include lesson plans with interactive curricula to assist you in preschool classrooms and a variety of parent handouts that communicate the importance of dental hygiene to share with families. Although some of the resources below are designed to support Head Start programs, the concepts are universal and the need for teaching children about ways to keep their teeth healthy cannot start too soon. Check out the resources on Show Me Child Care Resources by logging in or requesting a membership below. [![Log In or Request A Membership](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20470294/29be28c7-84b3-4258-8450-fc950b4d57e2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20470294/29be28c7-84b3-4258-8450-fc950b4d57e2) Contact [theteam@showmeresource.org](mailto:theteam@showmeresource.org) to learn more or if you have questions. ---   Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources: [FREE Clock Hour Training](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/free-clock-hour-training) [Scholarships for Educators](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/scholarships-for-educators) [Child Care Health and Wellness](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/child-care-nutrition-and-physical-activity) [Family Child Care Network](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/family-child-care-network) [Leadership Development Opportunities](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/leadership-development-opportunities) [Missouri Office of Childhood Updates](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/missouri-office-of-childhood-updates) [Show Me Child Care Resources](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/show-me-child-care-resources) [Support Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/support-child-care-aware) [Community Data](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/community-data) [Join Our Team](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/join-our-team) [Resources to Build Your Business ](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/resources-to-build-your-business)     #### About - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### Services - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### News - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram