Caring for Little Teeth
Oral health plays an important role in a child’s physical health, school success, and self-esteem. When children have tooth pain and decay, they miss important parts of being a kid! Playing, paying attention in school, sleeping, and eating are important parts of your child’s development. As baby teeth grow in, it’s important to know how to take care of them!
Oral Health Guide: San Mateo County Health
San Mateo County Health’s guide to oral health walks through how to keep your child’s smile healthy! There are tips for you, no matter what phase of life you and your child are experiencing. From the time you are pregnant, to the time you are helping your little one care for their own teeth, these best practices make it easy!
How to Find Oral Health Care
Experts recommend that you bring your baby to their first dental appointment as soon as they reach their first birthday or their first tooth appears.
| Health Plan San Mateo Dental | Kaiser Medi-Cal | Private Insurance | No Dental Insurance |
| Members of Medi-Cal through the Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM Dental) find a dentist here! All of your health care providers are accessible through the same place, including dental! Choose a dentist from HPSM’s network. |
Starting January 1, 2024, many San Mateo County Medi-Cal members were transitioned to Kaiser Permanente. There are a few ways to find a dentist: Find a Medi-Cal Dental Provider. If you cannot find a dentist in your area who is accepting new patients, contact the Medi-Cal Telephone Service Center for additional help at 1-800-322-6384. |
Check your insurance provider’s website or contact them directly to obtain a list of in-network dentists that work with children aged one through five. Typically, you can set up an appointment by contacting the dental provider directly. If your child’s dental office tells you they see babies starting at age 2 or older, schedule the appointment as close to your baby’s first birthday as possible. Ask the office if it’s possible to schedule a quicker initial ‘get to know you’ visit when your baby turns one. |
Visit San Mateo County Oral Health for information on finding care. |
Tips for Caring for Your Child's Teeth
We share lots of oral health information and tips on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Follow the links to see them all!
Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA)
Keeping teeth healthy is an important part of helping children succeed in school, even from the very beginning!
The Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) is required for all public school kindergartners. Students need to have an oral health screening completed by a licensed dental professional before the end of Kindergarten.
When you register your child for kindergarten, your registration packet contains the KOHA packet. You will find the KOHA form that needs to be completed by an oral health provider. If your child’s school is hosting a KOHA screening day, the dental providers at the school will complete the required form there!
Making Sure Your Child Completes the KOHA
- Make a dental appointment for your child during the year before they enter kindergarten, so you can turn in the completed oral health assessment form at the beginning of their kindergarten school year! If you do it while your child is still four, you will have plenty of time to get a dental appointment, even if you are dealing with longer wait times!
- Get the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment form from your child’s registration packet, from the school office staff, or you can download it in English or Spanish directly from our webpage here:
- Bring the letter and assessment form in English and in Spanish, if applicable, to the dental appointment and have the dentist fill them out.
- Return the completed form to your child’s school office staff.
To learn more about the KOHA, visit the San Mateo County Health website.
