Happy Thanksgiving!

Small Smiles of Oxon Hill helped make a family's Thanksgiving even more special this year by collecting and donating all of the trimmings for their holiday meal!

Dr. Sweta Announces Grand Opening of New Hartford Small Smiles Dental Center

Earlier this week, Dr. Sweta appeared on Better Connecticut to announce the grand opening of the new Small Smiles Family Dentistry in Hartford, CT.

Watch the video to hear what Dr. Sweta had to say!

Sports Drinks Can Be Harmful To Children's Teeth

Recently, Dr. James Mann from Small Smiles of Reno appeared on TV to discuss the harmful effects that sports drinks can have on children's teeth.

He advised that when its hot outside or children are playing sports, re-hydrating with water is the best option. To learn more, watch the video clip.

Greenville JAMZ Festival

Recently, Small Smiles of Greenville participated in the Greenville Jamz Festival. It was a summer celebration filled with friends, activities and toothbrushes for everyone!

DJ Z joined Small Smiles of Greenville's staff to help teach kids and parents about the importance of a good oral health routine.

Wild Smiles Takes Toothbrushes to the Philippines!

Earlier this summer, an employee from Wild Smiles in Houston went on a mission trip to the Philippines. There, she visited with local school children and taught them the importance of a good oral health routine. She also gave them each their own toothbrush so that they could continue the routine after she left.

Small Smiles Donates Toothbrushes to Uganda Mission Trip

Recently, Small Smiles of Roselawn donated toothbrushes to a local community organization who was traveling on an aid trip to Uganda.

In a note to the center, the mission's leader writes "The children were so excited to learn how to brush their teeth for the first time! As we were leaving we spotted children running to the bathroom to brush for a second time."

Small Smiles is proud to support good oral health practices the world around!

It's Hot Outside -- Drinking Water Will Keep Your Child Hydrated and Their Teeth Healthy

Check out this article in Dentistry IQ about the warning that CSHM-associated dentists issued to parents regarding sports and energy drinks.

With temperatures soaring across the country, it is important to keep kids who are playing outdoors hydrated. But, with more and more parents and caregivers turning to sports and energy drinks, parents should be aware of the risks associated with these drinks. Sports and energy drinks often contain citric acid -- a highly erosive ingredient that can eat away at tooth enamel. The risks of these drinks were recently highlighted in a study published in the June issue of the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal, Pediatrics.

“As children of all ages engage in outdoor activities during the summer, there is a growing tendency toward the consumption of sports and energy drinks instead of water,” said Dr. Steve Adair of CSHM. “The Academy’s advice to parents on this issue is clear. Encourage your kids to drink water instead of acidic, high-carb drinks that may increase the risk of tooth decay.”

The report stated that dental erosion from sports and energy drinks are “of concern” in children and adolescents, and pointed to a common ingredient – citric acid – that is “highly erosive” because it continues to eat away at tooth enamel even after a drink containing citric acid has been consumed.

Among the AAP’s recommendations were the following:

• That parents should be informed that routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted.

• Awareness should be raised among children, parents and educators that sports drink intake can lead to excessive caloric consumption and an increased risk of obesity and dental erosion.

• Water, not sports or energy drinks, should be aggressively promoted as the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.