At Brightside Up Inc., we believe that every child deserves a strong start, and that a strong start means caring for the whole child. Physical health, mental wellbeing, and oral health are not separate concerns. They are woven together, and they shape how children grow, learn, communicate, and thrive.
That belief is why we joined the New York Partnership for Dental Therapy.
Oral health is one of the clearest windows into a child’s overall wellbeing. Healthy primary teeth—which begin forming before birth—allow children to eat well, speak clearly, and feel confident, while holding space for permanent teeth and supporting the jaw, bones, and muscles they’ll rely on for life. The front teeth, in particular, are essential for forming sounds like “s,” “t,” “d,” and “z”—sounds that appear in nearly every sentence a young child learns to speak.
When decay or injury causes early tooth loss, the effects reach far beyond the mouth: children may struggle with speech development, experience discomfort that disrupts sleep and attention, and carry the effects of untreated dental problems into their school years. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommend that children establish a dental home by their first birthday, or within six months of that first tooth, to engage in preventive care.
But in the communities we serve, that recommendation is very difficult to keep.
Many families we work with have no designated dentist for their child. Some have never taken their child to one. This is not for lack of caring—it reflects how hard the system makes it. Few dental practices accept very young children, and those that do often have long waiting lists, or do not accept Medicaid. Recent clinic closures have deepened the shortage, particularly in the rural areas where many of our families live. The barriers are structural, and families are navigating them largely on their own.
Early childhood educators see this up close. When children arrive at child care programs, teachers and caregivers are often among the first to notice signs of dental pain, decay, or developmental concerns. We are trusted by families. We are already talking with parents and guardians about health and development every day. That positions us to do more—to connect families to resources, to advocate alongside them, and to support policies that make care more accessible.
Dental therapy is one of those policies. By expanding the dental workforce to include trained dental therapists who can provide care in community settings, New York can reach children and families who are currently going without. Every child who starts life with a healthy smile is better positioned to learn, grow, and contribute to the community around them. That is why Brightside Up stands with the New York Partnership for Dental Therapy.