Frontline workers can play a key role in preventing dental disease. Smiles for Moms and Babies (SMB) gives oral health resources and training to frontline workers. Frontline workers are:

• Home visitors,
• Community health workers/promotores de salud,
• Social workers, and
• Anyone who works to provide services to families.

Free, Self-Paced Online Training Available

Learn how to talk to clients about their oral health. Smiles for Moms and Babies - Oral Health Training includes: 

• Information on oral health care for pregnant women, infants, and children
• Tips and techniques to guide oral health discussions with families
• Links to educational handouts and YouTube videos in English and Spanish
• Help with finding dental services

The training is self-guided and participants may stop and resume at any time. It takes around 90 minutes to complete. Participants may ask for a free oral health kit after completing the course! The kit includes tools to teach good oral hygiene habits. Community health workers and community health worker instructors can receive two (2) DSHS-certified continuing education units for completing all course elements.

Create an account on the HHS Learning Portal to access the course. View instructions on how to create an account on the portal. The course is under the Department of State Health Services > Additional Courses category.

Free in-person oral health trainings are also available to frontline workers. Email dental@dshs.texas.gov to request an in-person training.

Video and Lesson Plan - A Child's First Dental Visit

Children should have their first dental visit by either age one or when their first tooth appears. Why so early? Babies can get cavities as soon as their teeth erupt. This video explains it all and shows what a baby's first dental visit is like. It's perfect for individual or group training activities!

This lesson plan includes talking points and questions to guide discussion with clients. The result is a 20 to 30-minute activity when used with the video. The lesson plan is available in English and Spanish.

Oral Health Resources for Home Visitors:

• Video: You Don’t Have to be a Dentist to Save Teeth: Role of the Home Visitor, 2018

• Video: Tooth Talk: Brushing Your Teeth, 2023

• Video: Tooth Talk: Flossing, 2023

• Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: Guidance for Texas Prenatal and Dental Providers

• Oral Health Pregnancy Consensus Statement (PDF)

• Opioids and Pregnant Women

• Oral Health Tips for Pregnant Women-English (PDF)/Spanish (PDF) 

• Oral Health Tips for Infants-English (PDF)/Spanish (PDF)

• Low-cost dental services guide

• Oral health pamphlets for:

  • Infants,

  • Children,

  • Adolescents, and

  • Adults

• Bright Futures: Oral Health---Pocket Guide, 3rd edition by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center

• Tooth Tips handouts for clients are available here.

• Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education-Oral Health and Dental Services for Pregnant Women Quick Course

• Medical Transportation tutorial

Last reviewed and updated: October 21, 2024