Posters, coloring pages, and more emphasize the importance of oral health on a daily basis.
Each February, National Pediatric Dental Health Month (NCDHM) brings together thousands of dedicated professionals, health care providers, and educators to promote the benefits of oral health for children, their caregivers, teachers, and more.
Expanding on the 2025 theme, NCDHM Resources celebrate and promote the importance of children’s dental health not only in February but throughout the year.
Resources such as posters and flyers highlighting the importance of tooth brushing are available for free download from the ADA. Available in two kid-friendly designs and two sizes: 8.5″ x 11″ and 11″ x 17″, the message on the poster is also included on the corresponding 8.5″ x 11″ coloring sheet. All materials include proper brushing techniques and are available in English and Spanish. ADA.org/NCDHM.
2026 for ADA brushing calendar You can also download it for free. This 12-month calendar is a valuable year-round support tool for promoting healthy behaviors, such as brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, which helps prevent dental disease. Kids can track their daily brushing and flossing and get creative by coloring monthly calendar images.
Another tool, NCDHM Program Planning Guideprovides resources to help program coordinators, dental associations, teachers, and parents promote the benefits of oral health to children. This guide includes easy-to-follow activities, program planning tips, sample NCDHM declarations, and more.
“Healthy habits develop with children. At home, parents should teach children to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, using a rice-sized amount until the first tooth emerges and a pea-sized amount after age 3. Also, help children clean between their teeth once a day,” said ADA President Rich Rosato, DMD. Achieving optimal oral health, which is deeply connected to overall health. ”
ADA releases NCDHM materials on a two-year cycle, with additional resources expected in 2027.
National Pediatric Dental Health Month began in February 1941 with a one-day event in Cleveland and a week-long celebration in Akron, Ohio. The event has grown over the years and evolved into a nationwide program.
ADA held the nation’s first Pediatric Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. This one-day event became a week-long event in 1955, and in 1981 the program expanded to become the month-long celebration known today as National Pediatric Dental Health Month.
If you have any questions about NCDHM resources, please contact us. ncdhm@ada.org. For oral health resources, visit: oral health.org.