Drawing on more than two decades of experience in dentistry, Dr. Angela Crincoli joined the KinderSmile Foundation in Bloomfield, New Jersey, in 2017. As a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Dr. Angela Crincoli has often volunteered her services for the association’s Give Kids A Smile Day.A program of the ADA Foundation, Give Kids A Smile began in 2002 when two dentists offered free dental service to almost 400 children in a dilapidated dental clinic in St. Louis, Missouri. The next year, inspired by their mission, the ADA developed a national program to provide oral health care for underprivileged children.Give Kids A Smile Day is held on the first Friday of every February, kicking off a number of special events throughout the year. The program brings together thousands of volunteers, including dental professionals, to provide treatment and education to children across the country.For more information about volunteering or to make a donation to support Give Kids A Smile, visit www.adafoundation.org/en/how-to-help.
With more than two decades of experience as a dentist, Dr. Angela Crincoli provides care and education to underserved children as a member of the dental staff for Kindersmile Foundation in New Jersey. Dr. Angela Crincoli also volunteers her time with Give Kids A Smile, a national program launched by the American Dental Association (ADA) to provide children with free oral health services. Give Kids A Smile kicks off each year with an annual event held on the first Friday in February. During these events, dentists and volunteers offer oral treatments, screenings, and education to underserved children at no cost. The program is a crucial component of the ADA’s Action for Dental Health, a community-based movement focused on ending America’s dental health crisis. Give Kids A Smile specifically addresses three areas of the movement: caring for people with untreated diseases; enhancing the public safety net; and fostering disease prevention and education. Implemented nationwide by the ADA in 2003, the program began as a single event hosted by Dr. Jeff Dalin and Dr. B. Ray Storm in St. Louis. They held the event in a run-down dental clinic scheduled for demolition and treated nearly 400 children. Its success led the ADA to adopt the idea and transform it into a nationwide movement. Since its inception, the program has treated more than 5.5 million children. Thousands of dentists and volunteers participate every year.
Dr. Angela Crincoli practices as a dentist with the Kindersmile Foundation of Bloomsfield, New Jersey, which provides dental care to children from underserved families. As part of her duties, Dr. Angela Crincoli helps parents and guardians understand the factors that impact their children's oral health.Children naturally love sugar, but eating it can cause lasting harm to both baby teeth and permanent teeth. When a person chews candy and sugary foods, the sugar interacts with the bacteria that naturally live in the mouth. This chemical reaction produces acid, which leaches away the minerals that keep tooth enamel strong and healthy.As the enamel loses mineral deposits, it begins to decay, and tiny holes, called cavities, begin to form. If left untreated, the decay can progress to the inner layers of the teeth and may cause damage extending to the roots, or can even cause premature tooth loss. Experts recommend that parents and guardians limit their children's consumption of sugar as much as possible and promote regular brushing and flossing. Drinking plenty of water can help wash away harmful bacteria and help the mouth to repair any damage that does occur. Children may still indulge in treats from time to time, but the consumption should be quick rather than lingering. Protective brushing should happen afterward, but not sooner than 45 minutes after the child finishes the treat.
As a dentist with the KinderSmile Foundation in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Dr. Angela Crincoli draws on 30 years of professional experience. As part of her mission of helping families develop a strong foundation for their children’s oral health, Angela Crincoli, DMD, focuses on parent education.According to the American Dental Association, good oral hygiene for children starts well before the first teeth emerge. Dental decay can begin as soon as the first teeth start to erupt through the gums, and as this can be difficult for parents to notice at first, pre-emptive care is crucial. Parents can make a habit of cleaning their child’s gums with a moist gauze pad or wet, clean washcloth, so that children and adults alike become accustomed to the process.As soon as teeth are visible, they can decay. Experts recommend cleaning a child’s first teeth, which usually emerge around the age of 6 months, twice daily with a baby toothbrush. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a small smear of fluoride toothpaste, no larger than the size of a grain of rice. The parent should brush not only all surfaces of the baby’s teeth, but also the tongue, if possible.Professionals typically recommend that babies see a dentist before the age of 1 year or within six months of the first tooth’s eruption, whichever occurs earliest. Many local health departments know of care centers that can provide such services to children from low-income backgrounds.
