The eruption of a child’s first tooth is a major developmental milestone, and HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis is working to help area families celebrate the occasion by hosting First Tooth Parties at the Museum on the first Saturday of each month, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., starting March 4. Admission to the parties is free for parents and babies, up to 18 months old. The parties will also feature a discounted museum admission price of $5 for siblings 3 years of age and older. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about early childhood oral health in a fun and festive environment, and take home a gift. Those in attendance on Saturday, March 4 will also get to meet the Smurfs, who will be on hand promoting their upcoming film Smurfs: The Lost Village.
“The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that a child’s first dental visit occur within six months after the first tooth appears, and no later than the child’s first birthday,” said Dr. Kourtenay Green, Lead Health Educator for HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis. “Unfortunately, infant dental care isn’t always top of mind for new parents. By hosting our First Tooth Parties, we are hoping to start an open discussion among parents about the importance of early childhood dental care and provide information on the best ways to maintain good oral health in babies.”
Each First Tooth Party will feature a presentation from a visiting dentist who will address a specific early oral health care topic. The presentations will provide parents with helpful information on various aspects of early childhood dental care including teething, the first dental visit, sippy cups and infant and toddler oral care techniques. Parents will also learn about ways to promote good oral health from an early age, while also gaining important insight on preventing oral health concerns like baby bottle mouth and early childhood tooth decay. All those in attendance will also receive a first toothbrush for their baby.
After the First Tooth Parties, families will have the opportunity to explore the Healthworks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis, which features 12,000 square-feet of hands-on, interactive exhibit and programming space that is accessible to those of all abilities and designed to give kids and families the passion to lead healthy lives.
The First Tooth Parties are open to the public but registration is required. To learn more about the upcoming First Tooth Parties or for information on the HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis, call (314) 241-7391, visit www.hwstl.org, find the organization on Facebook or follow them on Twitter using the handle @youcantoucan.
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis came into existence as a result of efforts to expand The Delta Dental Health Theatre to address broader, overall health issues after Delta Dental of Missouri became a major corporate sponsor in 2004. Those plans evolved and grew more ambitious over the next several years, ultimately leading to the closure of the original theatre on Laclede’s Landing in downtown St. Louis after 38 years so it could be housed in the new, dramatically expanded museum. The Delta Dental Health Theatre was originally organized as a program under the Foundation of the Greater St. Louis Dental Society in 1977. In 2002, it was incorporated as an independent 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314) 436-9090