"Give Kids a Smile Day" was a big success in Upper Darby last week. Over 200 appointments were made to have children's teeth screened during the event held in Upper Darby, Delaware. This was the first year that the event was held in the upper Darby area. Eight dentists from Darby and nearby Philadelphia participated in the event.

The goal of the event is to administer immediate care then help children find a local dentist that they can see on a regular basis. The organizers want to identify children without Delaware dental insurance get them set up with dental care services year-round. "We looked into a lot of mouths and solved a lot of potential problems for children this week", said the organizers.

The Give Kids A Smile program began in 2003 under the sponsorship of the (ADA) American Dental Association. Dentists and other dental professionals donate their time and services to provide exams, treatments, and education. The program started out as a local one-day event but has expanded into both local and national events 365 days per year. Each year, approximately 450,000 children benefit from more than 1500 events, all because of the efforts of 40,000 or more annual volunteers.

A child's primary teeth, sometimes called "baby teeth, typically begin to appear when a baby is between six months and one year of age, are as important as the permanent adult teeth. Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.

The ADA recommends that a dentist examine a child within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than the child's first birthday. Consider a dental visit at an early age is a "well baby checkup" for the teeth. Besides checking for tooth decay and other potential problems such as thumb-sucking.

Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.