Texas Tooth Steps

Texas Tooth Steps is the first step in oral health education and implementing positive oral health behaviors for moms and infants. Trainers will receive resources and materials in English and Spanish to use to educate women around the importance of self-care and care of infants.

This program addresses three specific oral health behaviors: a healthy diet for infants, daily oral hygiene and dental attendance. It also expands the knowledge and awareness among perinatal women about oral health and overall health.

In this specially designed toolkit, trainers have the option of customizing their package to include an educational PowerPoint presentation to use and gift bag materials. Materials can include a set of three onesies printed with an age-specific oral health message corresponding to the size of the onesie, (3 month, 6 months and 12 months) as well as educational brochures in English, Spanish or Vietnamese that provide oral health instructions with pictures demonstrating the information about all three oral health behaviors. Other materials that can also be included at an additional cost are infant washcloths to help keep gums clean, children’s books in English and Spanish to help set a nightly routine, and infant and adult sized toothbrushes to help enforce healthy behaviors in the home.

By incorporating the techniques of positive reinforcement and rewards along with attention grabbing slogans, and meaningful visual cues, the presenter can implement lessons that have a lasting and beneficial impact on his/her clients.